On Friday, September 3, 2021, Mark Edward Krehbiel, age 71, ended his
three-year battle with metastatic melanoma at Gove County Medical
Center, Quinter. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 AM
Tuesday, September 7th, at Bible Fellowship Church in Dighton, Kansas;
visitation with family present will be from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday,
September 6th at the Church. The service will be Facebook live on the
Garnand Funeral Home Facebook page.
Mark was born July 12, 1950, in Scott City, Kansas, to Orville and Elnor
(Hinderliter) Krehbiel. He graduated from Dighton High School in 1968,
and attended college at Kansas State University, where he studied
accounting, worked as an R.A. in Haymaker, and was a yell-leader for the
Wildcats. On a blind date in early-1971, Mark met Kit Kahler (a Logan,
KS, graduate) in Hays, KS, which led to a whirlwind romance culminating
in their marriage on December 26, 1971. A few years later their union
was blessed with the birth of a son, and later a daughter. Mark was a
devoted husband and father; his family always came first.
Throughout his life, Mark loved living in smaller communities, and he
enjoyed different roles while living in Dighton as a member of the city
council, a USD 482 school board member, and a Lane County EMT. Mark also
spent a great deal of time investing in church as both an elder and a
Sunday School teacher. For almost 30 years Mark was a general contractor
and loved building custom homes and various commercial projects in
western Kansas. Additionally, he was a dryland farmer for about 15 of
those years. Mark loved to cut wheat, and harvests were one of his
favorite times of year. Another of the greatest blessings to his family
are the years he spent working in both construction and farming with his
children. No matter how much patience Mark was actually born with,
working with his children day after day on many different jobs not only
tested it, but allowed him many opportunities to practice it. Both
Jeremie and Kelli treasure the times spent with him learning lessons
about work and life.
After his years building, farming and raising a family, and then to his
retirement, Mark enjoyed 17 years as a successful insurance professional
in Kansas, Colorado and Iowa.
Mark was a teacher; maybe not in the traditional sense, but he took the
time and energy, even in the hustle and bustle of life’s busyness, to
teach those who worked with him how to work hard, be efficient, take
pride in a job well done, and “work smarter, not harder.” He was also a
firm believer in working hard and playing hard! He loved to water ski,
scuba dive, fly fish, watch (and commentate) sporting events, and bird
hunt with his dogs. Most will fondly remember that Mark had an
infectious sense of humor! He loved to banter with others, play jokes on
his friends and neighbors, and he genuinely loved to make people
chuckle. Mark loved fun and took special care to pass that love of humor
on to his children and grandchildren. Mark loved his family beyond
measure. He wasn’t always a hugger, but he would go to the ends of the
earth to show those he loved how much he cared for them through his
actions and words. Of all things Mark was dedicated to, the most
important component of his life was his relationship with Jesus Christ.
Mark spent his life studying the Bible, praying, and sharing the love of
Christ with those around him. His most important legacy will be that
his family, and anyone who knew him, will know the gift of grace offered
by Jesus through a personal relationship with Christ.
Mark is survived by his wife, Kit, of the home; a son, Jeremie Krehbiel
and wife Olivia of Kerrville, TX; a daughter, Kelli Getz and husband
Levi of Quinter, KS; and five grandchildren, who affectionately referred
to him as “Pop”: Emma and Jarrett Krehbiel and Kayler, Lakin and Kamry
Getz. Surviving siblings include Judy (Ron) Musselwhite, Dighton, KS;
Jim (Genelle) Krehbiel, Scott City, KS; Larry (Vicki) Krehbiel, Dighton,
KS; Pamela Schnelle, Beatrice, NE; and Rick (Amy) Krehbiel, Greeley,
CO. Mark will also be dearly missed by numerous nieces, nephews,
friends.
Preceding Mark in death were his parents and a sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and John Huber of Hays, KS.
Memorials in memory of Mark may be made to Tunnel to Towers or Live Like
Jesus Today Ministries, both in care of Boomhower Funeral Home in
Dighton, KS. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com
Boomhower Funeral Home Box 891 Dighton, Ks 67839 620-397-5792