Kenneth Alan Reel

Canfield- Services celebrating the life of Kenneth Reel will be held at 11 am Monday at Smith Corners United Methodist Church. Ken was born July 29, 1945 the son of Jack L. and Vada (May) Reel and was a lifelong area resident. Ken was a 1963 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and Youngstown State University, retired from Canfield Local Schools in 2012. His 44 year teaching career began when he was hired at Canfield Local Schools as a history teacher in 1968. His teaching style made history come alive for his students and he was honored in 2013 with the Lifetime Educational Award from the Youngstown State Beeghly College of Education. Ken began his coaching career as director of the intramural sports program which spanned fifteen years. In addition to the intramural program, he coached boys and girls track. He coached the inaugural 8th grade girl's basketball season in 1985 and served in this capacity until his retirement in 2012. Ken was also a fixture in the middle school and high school programs. His steady influence over the athletes and students at Canfield has had a positive impact on countless young people's lives. Ken was inducted into the Canfield Athletic Hall of Fame. Ken was an active member of Smith Corners United Methodist Church, serving on various committees, sang in the choir and was a Sunday school teacher. He was also a member of the Dublin Grange and Mahoning County Farm Bureau. He loved to farm using the lessons he learned from his father. Ken was a loving, caring and patient son, husband and father. Ken is survived by his mother Vada, his wife Mary Ann (Purnell) whom he married July 26, 1969, children Amy (Chad) Nash of Rootstown, Matthew (Jennifer) of Canfield and brothers Gary (Sandie) of Canfield and Wayne (Judi) of Austintown. He was preceded in death by his father Jack L. Reel. Family and friends may call from 4-8 pm Sunday at the Lane Family Funeral Homes Austintown Chapel and from 10-11am Monday at the church prior to services. The Reel family would like memorial contributions to go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org in Ken's name to be used for research.