Doyle Eugene Kauk, 78, lost his life helping others in a tragic accident
on Wednesday, Dec. 15th, 2021, in rural Grant County, Kansas.
Doyle was born on a small farm South of Alma, Nebraska to Harry Kauk
and Opal Vahle on October 24, 1943. At the age of eleven, his father
died leaving Doyle, his older brother Stan, younger brothers Don &
Bruce, and sister Carolyn to help their mother continue the work on
their small farm south of Alma. They milked cows in the morning before
school and completed other chores after school. Their mother took a job
in town at a doctor’s office to supplement their income to support the
farm. When work was all done, he and his siblings enjoyed boating and
skiing on the Harlan County Reservoir. Scouting was an activity he
enjoyed and achieved the honor of Eagle Scout.
Doyle was valedictorian of his high school class in 1961 and
graduated with high honors from the University of Nebraska in 1965 with a
BS in Ag Economics & Accounting. He was a member of the Alpha
Gamma Rho Fraternity and a huge supporter of Huskers Football.
During his Junior year, Doyle was lined up for a blind date by a
fraternity brother whose girlfriend lived in Love Hall and knew a
freshman girl named Veronica (Ronnie) Bausch who lived down the hall
from her. Doyle and Ronnie would share different impressions about that
first date in March 1963, on Friday the 13th. However, many dates and
conversations later they became pinned in the fall of 1964 and married
on June 24th, 1966.
In 1966, Doyle earned his Master’s degree at the University of
California Davis and began teaching at Pomona State Polytechnic College
in the Los Angeles area. Zachary and Liza were born at the Kaiser
Foundation hospital in Fontana. The family returned to the Midwest in
1968 where Kim was born on July 20th, 1969.
Doyle held a number of jobs in agriculture including manager of the
Hoxie Feedlot, manager and part owner of the Halford Feedlot, and
nutritionist for ADM, and as a private beef nutritionist.
Doyle also served as a Sheridan County Commissioner from 2010 to
2016. He has always enjoyed spending time with family, friends and as a
consultant to people within the cattle industry. Hobbies included
skiing, snowmobiling, reading, and spending time designing, building,
and equipping his train room with the newest and most modern interactive
Lionel trains
Doyle is survived by his wife Veronica, three children, Zachary
(Katherine), Liza Blanc, and Kimberly (Pat) Brown. Grandchildren Cole,
Jacob, & Karly Kauk; Jordan, Cassandra, Alisha, & Angelina
Blanc; Kali Riley; Samantha, Bethany, & Carter Brown.
Great-Grandchildren Ember & Stella Blanc; Meredith Riley. Siblings
Stan Kauk, Don Kauk, Bruce Kauk, & Caroline Bloomfield.
Doyle was preceded in death by his parents and his grand-daughter Geena Brown.
Funeral services will be at 10:30am on Tuesday, December 21st, 2021 at St. Francis Cabrina Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to the
Doyle Kauk Memorial Scholarship fund at
www.doylekaukmemorialscholarship.org.