John "Mike" Kume,

Richmond, Ohio - John "Mike" Kume, Sr., age 86, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 26, 2012. He was born on May 19, 1926, in Premier, West Virginia, the sixth of eight children of Theresa (Vargo) and Steve Kume. John graduated from Gary High School in 1944 where he found his love for marching band and polka music. After high school, John was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Philippines. It was during his service that he found his love & talent for baseball. He went on to play professional baseball from 1946 until 1957. As John said "I had a good fastball and a good knuckleball, but I was wild and fast." On October 25, 1952, he married his "no other love" Helen Semanco. She was his greatest fan and traveled with John, sharing his love of baseball and lived in many places including West Palm Beach, Florida, Ottawa, Canada, Savannah, Little Rock and Sacramento. When John left baseball he settled his family in Richmond, where he worked for Trumbull Bronze for twenty-five years. He also worked at Sealy Medical and he retired from Parker Hannifan. Johns greatest joy was taking care of his yard, sitting in the sun and spending time with his family. He is preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Ethel (Kermit) Lewis, Margaret (Bart) Violet-Uhrin and Katherine (James) Daniels and two brothers, Steve (Helen) Kume and Joseph "Alex" Kume. Survivors include his wife of sixty years, Helen Kume of Richmond, Ohio; three daughters, Janet (Tom) Steinman, Renae (Andy) Clouse both of Findlay, Ohio and Deborah (Jim) Pilarcik of Hudson, Ohio; his son, John M. (Donna) Kume of Kingsville, Ohio; two sisters, Julia Yokes and Goldie Lipinski. He leaves nine amazing grandchildren, Meaghan, Michelle, Andrew, Hannah, Jamie, Sydney, Bradley, Abby and Katie. John was given a gift to be at home for Thanksgiving with his children and grandchildren. The Kume family would like to thank his second family at the Jefferson Healthcare Center for all of their tender loving care. In October the Jefferson Healthcare staff arranged it so John was able to attend the Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics game where he was recognized and helped John & Helen celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary with a party. The family would also like to thank the staff of the Tridia Hospice for their care and support. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 30, 2012, at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Victory Church, 481 Main Street, Andover, Ohio, with Rev. Matthew Albright officiating. Burial will follow in Richmond Center Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, November 29th from 5:00pm until 8:00pm at Baumgardner Funeral & Cremation Service, 134 Prospect St. Andover, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to Parkinson's Disease Foundation at PDF.org. An online guestbook is available at www.baumgardnerfuneralhomes.com

Service Information

Cemetery

Richmond Center Cemetery
St. Rt. 7
Richmond Township OH 44003

Visitation

Thursday, November 29 2012
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Baumgardner Funeral & Cremation Service of Andover
134 Prospect Street P.O. Box 1450
Andover OH 44003

Service

Friday, November 30 2012
10:00 AM

Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
481 S. Main St.
Andover OH 44003