Larry “Joe” Kingsbury, 80, passed away on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at the Parkview Care Center, Osborne, KS.
Joe was born November 9, 1940, in Smith County, KS, the son of Marley and Irene (Hill) Kingsbury.
After Joe’s father passed away, his family moved to town and at the
age of 15, Joe began working for Mini-Max Provisions in the warehouse,
bakery and ice cream departments.
On August 30, 1958, he
married Glenna Smith in Smith Center, KS, to this union they were
blessed with four children, Tammy, Tracy, Troy and Tyler.
In
1960, the family moved to Evergreen, CO where Joe worked for Evergreen
Gas Supply. They moved back to Smith Center, where Joe was again
employed by Mini-Max. In 1966 Joe moved the family to Boulder, CO where
he worked with his brother Paul for 1 ½ years at Paul’s gas station.
Wanting to be back around family, Joe and Glenna moved back to Smith
Center in 1968 where they purchased a farm east of Smith Center and he
began his career as a hog farmer. He also custom baled and swathed with
his brother Gary. In 1969 Joe and his brother, Russell, started K&K
Trash Removal business.
In 1978 Joe and Glenna started the
Jo-Glen Kennel business at their farm. They raised dogs for 26 years,
traveling all over to acquire new stock, and made many friends along the
way.
After Joe retired from raising hogs, dogs and running
the sanitation business in 2004, he ran for County Commissioner and
served 2 terms. He was passionate about his county and loved the
interaction with the Smith County residents. In 2016 Joe started
driving a bus for the school district and loved the interaction with the
children.
In 1990 Joe became member of the Harlan Church,
where he held several positions on the board. Later they began attending
the New Covenant Church in Smith Center.
Joe loved being
involved in his children and grandchildren’s lives. He attended their
sporting events and all of their high school activities, which spanned
42 years of non-stop school activities. After retirement Joe enjoyed
camping, fishing and golfing with family and friends and spending time
with his dogs.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years,
Glenna; daughter Tammy Kingsbury, Topeka; sons Tracy (Anne) Kingsbury
and Troy (Brenda) Kingsbury, Smith Center; and Tyler (Shanan)
Kingsbury, Lawrence; brother Gary (Sally) Kingsbury, Winner, S.D.;
sister Connie Nichols, Russell; brother-in-law, Robert (Bethie) Smith,
Mesa, AZ, sister-in-law, Wilma Kingsbury, Junction City, KS, Louise
Kingsbury, Smith Center; grandchildren, Ashley (Jason) Keilman,
Manhattan, Austin (Angela) Kingsbury, Salina, Andrea (Dakota) Frack,
Pomona, Addison Kingsbury, Kansas City, KS, Krista Wolf, Holdrege, NE;
Lynnae (Brian) Martin, Smith Center, Tracy Hudson, and
great-grandchildren, Brynn and Karter Keilman; Keirstin, KaraJo, Kam
Kingsbury and Jay Busher; Ellis, Olive and Emery Frack; Tai Milholland,
Trey and Tayona Wolf; and great-great-grandchildren Avery White and
Kysen Milholland.
He was preceded in death by his parents;
grandson, Shiloh Pickel; granddaughter Heaven Milholland; brothers Arden
Kingsbury, Paul Kingsbury, Merlin “Dean” Kingsbury and Russell
Kingsbury.
Funeral Services will be at the New Covenant
Church on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Mike
Gooder officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 29, 2021
from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison
St., Smith Center, KS. Masks and social distancing are recommended.
Memorials may be given to the Parkview Care Center, and one other to be determined at a later date, and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.