Rex Kerbaugh, 82, of Hill City, Kansas passed away at the Graham County Hospital August 29, 2019, surrounded by his beloved family. Rex was born December 23, 1936 in Loveland, Colorado, to Wallace and Lena (Kaufman) Kerbaugh. When he was a child his parents moved with their five children to Kansas. Rex attended grade and high school in Morland. Throughout his life he maintained friendships with his Morland acquaintances.

He served in the United States Army from 1956-1958, including an overseas tour of duty in Germany. Shortly after returning home he met Delores Geist. They were married in Wakeeney, January 30, 1960. Children quickly followed and by 1969 he was the proud father of six. At one point Rex and Delores had four children aged three and under! Rex was looking forward to celebrating 60 years of marriage this winter.

Rex was a lineman for Hill City before going to work for Midwest Energy. He held a variety of positions while serving 23 years with the power company. After the Hill City Power Plant closed, Rex relocated to the Tecumseh plant, where he worked for six years before retiring in 1999.

While raising their children Rex and Delores lived on a farm south of Hill City. This allowed for plenty of fun while gardening and caring for animals, which was always a family affair. This atmosphere helped instill hard work and responsibility in his children. Weekend getaways and vacations always included camping and plenty of outdoor activities. Rex often told stories of a family trip to Colorado to see his brother with the whole family packed in his 1957 Chevy. As a skilled woodworker Rex even built a horse drawn buggy to participate in trail rides. He participated in many rides and of course made this a family event. In 1991 Rex and Delores moved into town after their kids were grown.

Rex was also an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and activities supporting these sports which included scouting hunting locations and raising hunting dogs. He particularly enjoyed hunting when he was able to do it with his sons and passed on his love of the outdoors to them. After Rex got his kids hooked on archery they often bow hunted together. When Rex struggled with long walks scaring up pheasants, he took up trapping. Rex trapped raccoons and coyotes all over Graham County but was especially proud when he trapped the most challenging game, bobcats.

Rex was always ready to help others, perhaps best demonstrated by his regular blood mobile contributions. He was pleased to be recognized for donating more than 11 gallons. Rex was also very proud of his army service. Anyone driving by his Hill City home can see the Stars and Stripes flying high, showing his patriotism and great love for our country.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Bernard; two infant great-grandsons; and one brother, Wayne of Golden, Colorado. He is survived by his wife Delores of the home; five children: Kathy (Ross) VanPelt of Salina; Kenneth (Geralynn) of Tonganoxie; Karen (Tim) Pfeifer of Shawnee; James (Anita) of Hill City; and Tracey (Tony) Herman of rural Hill City; daughter-in-law Bonnie Kerbaugh of Elk City, Oklahoma; 15 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; three sisters: Berneta Bell of Hill City; Leona Bell of Morland; and Jean Nickelson of Wakeeney; and two granddogs. Rex’s love for family, his quiet gentleness, and his deep faith in God will be the things we remember and cherish.

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