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1935-2024

 

Kenley Inglefield, 88, of Edwardsburg, MI, peacefully passed away in the early hours of Jan. 17, 2024, at StoryPoint Granger.

Kenley was born in Pittsburgh, PA, to Paul and Bonita (Gibb) Inglefield. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Howard, of Whitewater, WI. He was also preceded in death by former wives Judith (Harris) and Ruth (Dahlstrom).

Kenley married his wife, Debra (Klink) on June 19, 1993. She survives him, as do his son, Jon (Kathryn) Inglefield of New Market, MD, and his daughters, Sonja (Berndt Gottinger) Inglefield of Fredonia, NY, and Laura (John) Hawkins of Scottsboro, AL. He is additionally survived by stepsons Alex (Jennifer Widom) Aiken of Stanford, CA and Christopher Aiken of MacDoel, CA. He was the grandfather to nine children and had one great-grandchild.

A lifelong musician born to music-teacher parents, Kenley grew up in Meadville, PA and attended Interlochen Music Camp while in high school. He enrolled at Eastman School of Music after his graduation from Meadville HS, majoring in Music Education. Graduating from Eastman in 1957, he enlisted in the Army Band, stationed in Washington DC, earning a Master’s degree in Composition at American University in 1961. He earned his DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) in Conducting from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 1971.

Kenley served as Band Director at Robert E. Lee HS in Fairfax, VA from 1960 to 1963, before moving on to college faculty positions at University of Evansville (IN)1963 -1967, University of Toledo (OH) 1969-1974, and moving to Bowling Green State University (OH) in 1974. He taught a variety of music courses, including band arranging, orchestration, lessons on trombone, euphonium and tuba, and musicianship. Upon his retirement from BGSU in 1998, he moved to Edwardsburg, MI and became the Music Director of the Elkhart County Symphony Youth Honors Orchestra, continuing until 2006. He also served with the Elkhart County Historical Museum, helping to commemorate the history of C.G. Conn and the instrument manufacturing history of Elkhart.

As a performer on cello, trombone, and euphonium, Kenley played in a number of groups, including the Evansville Philharmonic, Toledo Symphony, Toledo Opera, Toledo Concert Band and the Black Swamp Brass of Bowling Green, OH. After moving to Michigan, he performed with the Elkhart County Symphony, the Elkhart Municipal Band, the Chamber Brass Quartet, as well as a variety of other local groups. He also maintained a home studio, offering private instruction on trombone and euphonium.

In his leisure time, Kenley was known as a British sportscar enthusiast, rebuilding Triumphs, and frequently driving his TR-4 to events and around town. He also enjoyed travel, taking several memorable car trips with Debra, including a drive from Edwardsburg to Alaska, another to Key West, FL, and a car-ferry excursion to Newfoundland, Canada.

Kenley was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart, and had previously been a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Toledo, OH.

The family would like to thank the staff of Always Best Care, of StoryPoint Granger, and Traditions Hospice for their compassion and care over the last two years.

Elkhart Cremation services has been entrusted with his care, and a Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 1 at 1 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Ken’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra, or the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart.