Kenneth Holmes, Tipton
July 28, 1924 - January 4, 2022
Kenneth Dean Holmes was born to Leslie Evert and Bessie Gertrude (Stafford) Holmes on July 28, 1924 at St. Joseph Hospital in Concordia, Kansas. He passed away on January 4, 2022 at the Resident Care Center in Beloit, Kansas at the age of 97.
Kenneth was married to Marcella Lucille Sterba on June 1, 1943 at Belleville, Kansas. To this union eight children were born. After nearly 59 years of marriage, Marcella passed away on May 23, 2002.
Kenneth grew up on a farm east of Republic, Kansas and graduated from Republic High School in 1942. He completed the Normal Training Program his senior year and began his teaching career in the fall of 1942 at Lowland School north of Munden, Kansas. Kenneth served in the US Navy and, upon release, returned to teaching in rural Republic County.
Kenneth and Marcella took up farming near Byron, Nebraska in 1946. In 1968 they moved to a new home that Kenneth and family had built near Chester, Nebraska. The growing farming operation became known as “KenMar Farms.”
While in the Byron and Chester communities, Kenneth served on the Byron School Board, Byron Lions Club, Chester-Hubbell School Board and director on the Production Credit Association Regional Board. In 1975 Kenneth became a co-owner of Chester Farmers Grain Company.
In 1980 Kenneth and Marcella moved to Mart, Texas along with KenMar Farms. They retired in 1988 and moved to their new home in Waco, Texas. In retirement Kenneth continued to manage KenMar Farms and partnered in Oak Ridge Realty, a real estate brokerage firm. In 2001 Kenneth and Marcella moved back to Kansas where they lived in Belleville. Kenneth moved to Salina, Kansas in 2006 and then to Tipton, Kansas in 2012.
Kenneth was an active member of the Catholic Church. He served as an acolyte and eucharistic minister. Kenneth was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as Grand Knight, Faithful Navigator, and Nebraska State Deputy.
Kenneth placed a high value on faith, family, hard work, and education. He enjoyed singing and playing his guitar, banjo, and harmonica. He entertained playing his banjo and harmonica as recent as this past Thanksgiving Day. Kenneth and Marcella loved to travel and drove every U.S. state, including Alaska by way of Canada. Kenneth was a typical farmer who could build or fix about anything. In retirement he delighted children and grandchildren with his woodworking creations.
Kenneth’s parents, seven brothers, two sisters, his loving wife, and his dear daughter, Kathryn Francis preceded him in death.
Survivors include seven children, Marcella Tomooka, Kenneth (Lorraine) Holmes, Patricia (Bob) Veach, Marilyn (Frank) Ohnsat, James (Cindy) Holmes, John Holmes, and Loretta (Terry) Wehrs; 26 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 7 at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Tipton, officiated by Fr. Daryl Olmstead and his grandson, Fr. Kenneth Wehrs, and burial services will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the St. Georges Cemetery near Munden, Kansas. A parish rosary will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Church, and visitation will be from 5 p..m. until the rosary service begins Thursday at the Church. Memorials may be given to the Resident Care Center.
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