Mr. Marvin G. Kemmerling Sr., age 83, of Edinburg, formerly of Kincaid, died at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, August 08, 2013 at his residence.

Marvin was born January 15, 1930, in Taylorville, the son of John H. and Emma Belle (Moore) Kemmerling. He spent his entire life in the Kincaid area. After graduating from South Fork High School, in the late 1940's, he started hauling coal out of Peabody #8 Coal mine at Tovey with his dad. He also worked at Klemm's Case dealership in Kincaid until he was drafted for service in the Korean War, where he served in a combat artillery battery. For the first five years after his release from the Army, he operated a Standard Oil Station in Kincaid, purchasing the property in 1958. That same year he put up a Laundromat in the building that now houses Lucia's Beauty Salon. In 1961, Marvin built a new gas station, which still stands today. In 1964 he built the Star-Lite Restaurant, which operates as Kincaid Diner today. Two years later he opened the Kincaid Car Wash. In 1968 he purchase the east end of Block 4 from Eisner's and had a new steel building erected for a grocery store and a larger laundry. Kincaid Food Market operates there today.

Marvin played an instrumental role in getting the American Legion building erected on the west side of the Kincaid Park, and it remains one of the nicest in Illinois. From 1978 to 1998, he sold real estate for Craggs Realtors; he was top salesman in 1985. In 1990 Marvin had the first storage-building put up in Kincaid. Today, Emma's Storage (named after his mother) includes several buildings in central and western Illinois.

Marvin has been a member American Legion Post #905 in Kincaid for 58 years, serving as treasurer for 30 years and as Commander in 1973 and 1974. He was chairman of the Kincaid Labor Day Picnic for 30 years, serving as the Grand Marshal of the 2000 Labor Day Parade. Marvin served 16 years as a Kincaid Village Trustee and eight years as Mayor of Kincaid, with his last term ending in April 2001. Although his career as mayor ended in 2001, he continued to support the community and assist in the many activities of the American Legion

Surviving is one son, Marvin G. Kemmerling Jr. of Kincaid, IL; two grandchildren, Natasha (husband Greg) Russell of Boiling Brook, IL and Nathan (wife Jessica) Kemmerling of Springfield, IL; sister, Ava Evans of Kincaid; brother Melvin (wife Ione) Kemmerling of Springfield, IL; special friend Madelyn Lazzarini of Taylorville, IL along with several nieces and nephews.

His parents and one brother, Newell Kemmerling, preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday August 10, 2013 at the American Legion in Kincaid. Pastor Linda Vonck officiated. Burial followed in Walnut Hill Cemetery in rural Edinburg. Visitation was held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday August 10, 2013 at the American Legion in Kincaid.