Dozens of community members spent the morning of July 9 sweeping, but not just to keep Marion’s downtown clean. Residents and employees from downtown businesses lined the street to honor Kenneth “Kenny” M. Spafford, who died June 25, as his funeral procession drove by.
To many, Spafford was known for his dedication to keeping Marion’s sidewalks clean. They’d see him sweeping outside of businesses or shoveling snow in the winter.
But for many others, Spafford was a treasured part of the wider Marion community.
Mike Zucker, owner of Mike’s Deli on Main, knew Spafford for 30 years through various clubs and his involvement in youth sports.
“I don’t think he actually realized how much of an impact he left on our society,” Zucker said.
Spafford graduated from Highland High School and Tri-Rivers Career Center, where he studied data accounting. When he was 19, he moved to Marion.
Spafford, 61, raised more than $100,000 for charities like Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, American Arthritis Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Lung Association, Breakthrough T1D (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Kidney Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Race for the Cure, Special Olympics, and more, according to his obituary.
“Kenny. That’s all you need to say and everyone in Marion knows who you are talking about,” Spafford’s obituary says. “Everyone knew Kenny, and Kenny knew everyone. He was a familiar and beloved presence across town and a daily fixture, often seen picking up litter during his walks.”
According to a Facebook post by Downtown Marion, Inc., the organization collected donations to go toward Spafford’s funeral expenses. Leftover funds will be used for a memorial park bench and tree in downtown Marion.
‘He didn’t know a stranger’
Many who lined the sidewalks Wednesday morning remember Spafford for his playful nicknames and his “respectful” use of “Miss” whenever talking to women.
“He knows everyone’s name,” Katie Williams said before the processional. “If for some reason, he meets someone and thinks he doesn’t know someone’s name, he’ll go, ‘my apologies, I need your name again.'”
Spafford dubbed Brandy Imbody, an employee at Union Bank, “Miss. BB.”
“He always called me Miss. BB,” Imbody said. “Never really understood that … but Miss.BB was by far my favorite. He was the only one that ever called me that.”
Carrie Fields, an employee at Union Bank, said Spafford spoke with everyone when he came in. He learned all the employees’ names because she said, “he didn’t want to leave anybody out.”
“If he noticed someone new, ‘please introduce me,'” Imbody said. “He always knew everyone.”
A cheerleader for cheerleaders
Judy Cunningham remembered Spafford as a cheerleader for Pleasant High School sports.
“Rain, shine, sleet or hail, Kenny was there,” Cunningham said. “When there was a touchdown, which there was always many, it was ‘touchdown Kenny’ and he threw out candy bars to the cheerleaders. He didn’t know a stranger.”
She said Spafford always could be found amongst the cheerleaders, including Cunningham’s daughter who cheered for the football team.
“It was fun for them,” Cunningham “Somebody to have a permanent fixture for them. Someone to laugh with, someone to have fun with.”
During his breaks from sweeping, Spafford often would leave his bag and broom at Union Bank where employees created a space for him to store it.
As a Michigan football fan, Fields said she and Spafford had a spirited rivalry when it came to college football. Spafford sometimes came into the bank with a “don’t get me start Miss. Carrie.”
“He lost it after Michigan won last year,” Imbody said with a laugh.
An advocate for Marion’s downtown
Some of those honoring Spafford on Wednesday said they hadn’t talked him too much, but knew him from his efforts to beautify downtown through his sweeping.
“You don’t barely see businesses sweeping their own sidewalks anymore, but he was just out here doing it,” Imbody said.
Jenni Hypes, known as “Miss. Jennifer” to Spafford, and Williams or “Miss. Jennifer’s Friend” as Spafford called her, both swept downtown on Tuesday, July 9, in his honor.
“I think he always believed in downtown Marion, even before it was starting to come up with these different businesses and stuff,” Williams said.
‘This community was family’
Esther Beam, “E” to Spafford, worked at National City Bank where Spafford stopped by to say hello.
“He was just real friendly and always trying to help people and very intelligent,” Beam said. “He knew all about our accounts. We had given him a brochure and he memorized everything in the brochure.”
Cameron Arn, head chef at Mike’s Deli on Main, remembered Spafford for his kindness, gratitude and, of course, Spafford’s love of “extra extra mayo” on his sandwiches. Arn said Spafford never failed to ask how his day was going and what was going on in his life.
“He was kind of one of those people that even if he had something going on, he’d never share,” Arn said. “He would never bring that side. He was always ‘how are you doing,’ the positive. It was always good with him, always positive.”
Rick and Terry Lyon knew Spafford through his involvement at Emanuel Lutheran Church. They said he always said hello to everyone and sat in the front pew.
“And nobody ever said ‘amen’ louder than him,” Rick Lyon said.
Hypes and Williams remembered seeing Spafford at community events and volunteering whenever he could.
“I think people remember his involvement in a lot of different things and I hope it does spark when he leaves a gap, they’ll step into that gap and keep his support going, keeping his pride for the community going,” Hypes said.
As the funeral procession went by, community members lined the streets, holding up dozens of brooms in Spafford’s honor.
“I think he knew how well loved he was by this community,” Williams. “And I think that’s cool, because we really never know if someone feels loved. … I think this community was family for sure.”
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Community members sweep streets, raise brooms in memory of friend to all, Kenny Spafford
Reporting by Abby Bammerlin, Marion Star / Marion Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
