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Kenneth Dement
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Kenneth Lee Dement, 80, formerly of Sikeston, passed away Friday Feb. 15, 2013.
Born Feb. 13, 1933, in Poplar Bluff, to the late Charles and Ada Hudson Dement, he was a 1951 graduate of Sikeston High School and had lived for the past 12 years at the Missouri Veterans home in Cape Girardeau.
He received many accolades for playing football being first inducted into the Sikeston High School Hall of Fame in 1997 and then in 1998 into the College Football Hall of Fame and Southeast Missouri Football Hall of Fame.
He was an All-American tackle at Southeast Missouri State University where he played from 1951-1955. His number 40 jersey was retired.
After graduating from SEMO in 1955, he was drafted by the New York Giants but instead of playing professional football chose to serve his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps for two years. He was discharged in May 1957 as a captain.
Kenneth graduated from the Washington University School of Law in 1961 and was engaged in a very successful law practice in Sikeston until his stroke at the age of 51. Despite this, he always kept a positive attitude and worked hard to rehabilitate.
One of his proudest moments was being interviewed by Mike Wallace of "60 minutes" about one of his cases.
He proudly served Southeast Missouri State University as a member of the Board of Regents from 1976-1981, including as its president; as a commissioner on the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority; was a former city attorney for Sikeston; and was involved in numerous other community activities over the years.
Kenneth had many accomplishments in his life and was most proud of his family.
He is survived by: four sons and daughters-in-law, Kenneth and Drew Dement Jr. of Sikeston, Jerry and Toni Dement of Cape Girardeau, Randy and Debbie Dement of Englewood, Colo., and Justin and Lisa Dement of St. Louis; two daughters and one son-in-law, Mary and Jim Below of Sikeston and Laura Dement of Denver; 13 grandchildren, Gabe (Jennifer) Dement of Sikeston, Erin Dement of St. Louis, Ellie Miller of Nashville Tenn., Lindsay (Josh) Miller of Jackson, Jami Dement of Cape Girardeau, Bryan, Eric, Kevin and Scott Dement of Englewood, Jenny and Audrey Keller of Sikeston and Tanya Harvey and David Berger of Denver; and four great-grandchildren, Karleigh and Tucker Dement of Sikeston and Jackson and Kylie Miller of Jackson.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Richard "Dick" Dement, a sister, Sue McCollum, and a daughter, Maureen Karen Dement.
Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Monday at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.
A private interment with military honors will be held at a later date at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery with the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be shared at www.nunneleefuneralchapel.com.
Memorial contributions
may be sent to:
Southeast Missouri State
University Athletic Department
or
Missouri Veterans home
in Cape Girardeau
or
the Sikeston Booster Club
Paid obituary