N. Michael Hershberger

N. Michael Hershberger, age 72 of Jackson Township passed away Sunday at Amherst Meadows with his family at his side. Mike was born October 9, 1939 in Massillon Ohio to the late Frank and Mary (Allmon) Hershberger. He was a 1957 graduate from Washington High School where he played football and was outstanding in baseball. He then attended the University of Cincinnati on a football scholarship. He signed a professional baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox and had a ten year career from 1961 until 1971. Mike started and ended his career with the White Sox playing with the Kansas City Athletics, Oakland Athletics and the Milwaukee Brewers in between. Following his baseball career he went into sales, starting with toys and moving on to a Manufacturing Representative Partnership where he sold sporting goods. Mike touched the lives of many individuals, particularly those of young men who were on teams he coached of all three of his sons. He was generous with his time and talents giving back to organizations like, St Joseph's Orphanage, Special Olympics, The Massillon Boys Club, and the Challenger Baseball Team in Canton to mention a few. He could be found supporting his community with his involvement in Compassionate Friends and St. Michael's Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Bobby, his brother Jack and two of his sisters, Irene Kay and Dorothy Chovan. He is survived by his wife, Judy Hilbert Hershberger with whom he would have shared 52 years of marriage on September 19th. They have three children, Beth (Pete) Sproul, Mark (Kris) Hershberger and Michael Todd Hershberger. He leaves a sister and a brother, Evie Bush and Jimmy (Carol) Hershberger. He has six grandsons that were the delight of his life, Jacob, Matthew, Robert, James, Lucas and Peter. A Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Massillon, where Mike & Judy were married. Fr. Robert Kaylor and Fr. Raymond Paul will officiate. Burial will be at Sunset Hills Burial Park. Friends may call Thursday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the Paquelet Funeral Home in Massillon. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Mike's name to either Compassionate Friends (1167Lennox NE, Massillon, OH 44646), Central Catholic Baseball or Green Hill Therapy, 1410 Long Run Rd, Louisville, KY 40245. Messages of support and sympathy can be sent to the family at www.paquelet.com. Paquelet Funeral Home & Crematory 330-833-3222