HINSHAW, Kermit Leon 1919 - 2014
HINSHAW, SHY, TRIGG, EMONIN, HAYES, POTTER, NYREN, BROWN, ROLAND, HARKEN, KAVANAGH
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 11/15/2014 at 11:28:29
"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Page 8Kermit L. HINSHAW
Kermit Leon HINSHAW, 95, of Richland, Iowa, died at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, November 4, 2014, at SunnyBrook Living Care Center, Fairfield, Iowa. He was born March 25, 1919, in Richland, Iowa, the son of Loren Levi and Gertrude Pearl (SHY) HINSHAW.
He graduated from Richland High School in 1936 and attended William Penn College for a brief time. Kermit was united in marriage to Janet Anne TRIGG on October 5, 1941, at the home of the bride's mother in Richland, Iowa. The couple lived in Richland their entire married life.
Soon after their marriage Kermit was drafted into the Army. He became a T5 expert tele-typist in the 250th Signal Corps. He served in the European theater throughout WWII. And was in the 7th Army with General Patch. During the war Kermit played his fiddle for the Henault Mountaineers and continued playing the fiddle and mandolin throughout his life. Five of his Army buddies and he planned to stay in contact after the war. They met every other year thereafter. These men were so close to each other that they were more like brothers than simply friends.
When the war ended, Kermit and Janet farmed, raised cattle and hogs on the Hinshaw family farm east of Richland. In 1951 Kermit built the Hinshaw Oil Company at the south edge of Richland and later added a restaurant. A feed store was built next to the gas station a few laters later and finally a propane plant.
During the gas station years Kermit never forgot his childhood love of horses. He decided to buy his first Standardbred mare, then later he purchased a Standardbred stallion, Tryax. This started a love affair that turned into a 60 year career with Standardbred horses. He was a Standardbred owner, trainer, driver, ferrier, breeder, owner of a horse sale company and at times his own vet. He raised hundreds of colts and trained many of them on the half mile track he built at the Hinshaw Homestead Farms. He was well known for purchasing and selling Standardbred horses throughout the United States and Europe.
His most famous horse, Jodevin, 1:59, was the 1976 National Two-Year-Trotter of the Year, winning 21 of 22 races. Other top Standardbreds trained & raced by Kermit were Scottish Key, Emily Dixie Lee, Sailing Sally, Coleman's Baby, Jimbo Adios, Installed, Curtain, Kenda and Oxford Brilliance to name a few.
Kermit was instrumental in starting the Iowa Hawkeye Colt Association to promote Standardbred colt racing throughout Iowa. He was the President of that association for nearly 20 years. He was inducted into the Iowa Harness Horse Hall of Fame. Kermit also served as Director for District 4A of the United States Trotting Association (USTA). He later was named Director Emeritus of the USTA.
Family genealogy was something Kermit always enjoyed. He was the family historian. People often contacted Kermit seeking information about their relatives. Kermit loved his hometown of Richland and for several years he was considered the Richland historian. If someone came to town wanting to know some Richland information they were usually sent to Kermit to find their answers. Over the years Kermit wrote about his many memories of Richland. He always supported Richland and encouraged its growth.
Kermit was a faithful member of the Woolson Friends Church in Richland until he had to move to the nursing home. He loved the Lord and was not aftaid to tell others about Christ and encouraged young people to attend church and make sure their lives were on track with the Lord.
He had a great love for his wife, children, and a special love for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Kermit is survived by his son, John and wife Reka of Ankeny, IA; Emily EMONIN and husband John of Marion, IA; Korwin and wife Judi of Fairfield and Sallie HAYES and husband Terry of Fairfield, IA; granddaughter Lorraine (EMONIN) NYREN and husband Andrew of Milwaukee, WI; Mark Ryan HINSHAW and wife Kirsten of Ankeny, IA; Amanda BROWN and husband Nick of Richland; Kelsie ROLAND and husband, Jeremy of Richland; Derek HAYES of Fairfield; and Kirsten HARKEN and husband Matthew of Waterloo, IA. He is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren: Grant, Benjamin, Elliot, and Abraham POTTER; Riley, Lillian, Eleanor, and Korwin Michael BROWN; Ella and James NYREN; Taylor HINSHAW and Paul ROLAND. He is also survived by one sister-in-law, Harriet "Peggy" KAVANAGH.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Janet Anne (TRIGG); brothers, Loren Keith, Kevin Dean; brothers-in-law, William and Paul TRIGG; sisters-in-law, Donna HINSHAW, and Grace TRIGG.
Celebration of life services for Kermit L. HINSHAW will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 8, 2014, at Woolson Friends Church, Richland, Iowa with Rev. Frosty Van Voorst officiating. Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. Friday, November 7, 2014, at Woolson Friends Church. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Interment will take place at Richland Friends Cemetery, Richland, Iowa (note: in Keokuk Co., IA).
Memorials have been established to the Woolson Friends Church, Richland Friends Cemetery and the Christian Harness Horse Association and may be left at the church or mailed to the family at 1104 Wedgewood Circle, Fairfield, IA 52556.
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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Janet Anne TRIGG HINSHAW's obituary - click here
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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