Kenneth William Shinafelt

Kenneth William Shinafelt was a 31-year-old resident of Lorain, Ohio. Public records and contemporary news reporting identify him by name and age and show that his life was connected to the neighborhoods of Lorain where he lived and walked. On July 11, 2016, Kenneth suffered a violent injury and was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, where he died the following morning. Those factual details are part of the public record, but they do not define the whole of who he was.

Beyond the brief mentions in news coverage, little else about Kenneth’s private life is available in authoritative public sources: there are no family-published obituaries or funeral-home notices located that match his full name and the exact date of death. That scarcity of public information means we cannot responsibly invent personal details, family lists, or anecdotes. What is clear from the available records is that Kenneth was a real person with relationships and ties to his community in Lorain — someone known by neighbors and remembered by those who encountered him in daily life.

This page honors Kenneth by acknowledging his humanity and presence. Even when public documentation is limited, it is important to recognize that a life of 31 years contained friendships, routines, hopes, and ordinary days that mattered to others. If family members or close friends wish to provide memories, photos, or corrections for a fuller memorial record, those additions will help ensure Kenneth is remembered for the person he was, not only by the circumstances surrounding his death.