Elwood Hemphill
January 28, 1930 — October 4, 2016
Elwood L. “Bucky” Hemphill, age 86 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 10:25 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at The Waters Of Greencastle, Indiana following an extended illness.
He was born on January 28, 1930 in Buchanan, Michigan to Harry Burgess and Edna May (McMillan) Hemphill. He was graduated from Niles High School where he earned varsity letters in several sports. He began working at the Niles Montgomery Ward department store while in school, moving to full-time sales upon graduation. In 1949 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he continued his athletic accomplishments until being called to the battlefront in Korea. His unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy, and Sergeant Hemphill suffered two battle wounds - earning him the Purple Heart medal with an additional Gold Star. After completing his tour of duty, he was honorably discharged as a Veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Bucky returned to Niles, and joined the Niles City Police Department in 1954. In addition to his patrolman duties, he developed the child safety program: “Bucky the Bike” which was a bicycle with a character face and turnsignal blinking eyes, ending the show with a locally produced coloring book for each child. Lieutenant Hemphill completed a remarkable thirty-seven years as a sworn law enforcement officer, retiring in 1991.
He was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, the Saint Joseph Valley Lodge #4, F. & A.M., the American Legion Post #26, and a life member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #95, all in Niles. He volunteered with the United Way, was appointed to various city boards, and spent many years soliciting sponsors and selling tickets for the FOP corn roast and Legion fish fry. After retirement, he continued to find ways to serve people, including operating his snowblower for the benefit of most of his neighborhood. Even when relaxing in the pool, he found time for the grandchildren.
On June 5, 1954 in Niles he married the former Kathryn Mae “Kathy” Goldfuss with whom he celebrated the remarkable Sixty-first anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on October 18, 2015. He was also preceded in death by his parents, and by his siblings, Crystal Rossow, Betty Krassow, Ivy Aldrich, Hazel Larson, and Harry Hemphill.
Surviving family includes his children, Teresa Kay (& Gerald) Baker of Reelsville, Indiana, Todd Elwood Hemphill of Cloverdale, Indiana, and Timothy Burgess (& Paula) Hemphill of Spartanburg, South Carolina; grandchildren Ashley (& Joe) Jones, Emily (& Dayne) Nelson, Jacob Tyler Hemphill, Michael Todd Hemphill, and Kaitlyn (& Nigel) Long; great-grandchildren Easton, Luke, Charlotte, and Kennedy; and Bucky’s sisters, Goldie Stickovich of Mishawaka, Indiana, Bernice “Bernie” Cherryholmes of Florida, and Nellie Prince of Niles, and many nieces and nephews.
Services for Bucky Hemphill will begin with Masonic Rites by the Saint Joseph Valley Lodge #4 at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, October 10, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, followed immediately by a funeral service with the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Committal services will be at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, and will conclude with the Full Military Honors by the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan.
The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at Noon on Monday at the funeral home with an Honor Guard by the Niles City Police Department. Contributions in memory of Bucky may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601.