God saw you were getting tired and a cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around you, and whispered "Come with me".
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer and saw you fade away.
Although we couldn't bear to lose you, we could not ask you to stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands laid to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.


Kenneth W. Pemberton, beloved by family and friends, was born July 4, 1931 to Emil and Edna Pemberton in Iberia, Missouri and passed away April 18, 2018 from an 18-year battle with cancer.  He graduated from Iberia High School in 1948.  He served in the Army stateside and also in the Korean War.  He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1958.  Kenneth worked for the Missouri State Highway Department in Kansas City, transferring to Springfield in 1967 as a Traffic Engineer until his retirement in 1993.  He was a member of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, OCITE, the Masonic Lodge and many more.  Additionally, he held several positions for Boys Scouts and he and his son, Steven were members of the Order of the Arrow.  Kenneth liked to fish, float, water ski at the lake and watch Cardinals baseball.

But Kenneth's favorite job was his family.  For over 63 years, he was married to Pasty (Bach), his forever love, who survives him.  He is also survived by a daughter, Cathy Bennett (Mark); son, Steven Pemberton (Marita); granddaughter, Melissa Boden (Jeff); grandson, Zachary Bennett (Michaela); great-grandchildren, Noah and Ella Boden.  He also leaves behind his sister, Alice Steen; brothers, Robert (Shirley), Ronald (Janet); aunt, Janet Wilson; sister-in-law, Rosalee Pemberton and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Charles; brother-in-law, Sherrill Steen and best friend, Max Wilson.

Our family would like to thank Dr. Dominic Meldi and nurse, Jennifer, Dr. Nair, Cancer Center, Hospice Compassus, especially Laura and Cricket, and our good neighbors, Dave and Ken.

Graveside services will be Monday, April 23, 2018 at 2:00 pm in Hazelwood Cemetery under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.  Visitation will be Sunday, April 22 from 4-6 pm in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Cancer Research of the Ozarks, 1730 E. Republic Road, Springfield, MO 65804.