Reuben Kerbs, 85, retired railroad signal maintainer with Southern Pacific, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Salina Regional Health Center.
The service was Monday, Feb. 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 425 Main St., Tampa. Burial followed in the Tampa Lutheran Cemetery.
He was born Jan. 13, 1924, to Godfrey and Lydia (Steinle) Kerbs in Tampa. On Sept. 14, 1952, he was married to Lucille Gooding, who survives him.
Other survivors include a daughter Connie Thompson of Abilene; three sons, Glenn of Dodge City, Tim of Salina and Russ of Tampa; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or to the Tammy Walker Cancer Center of Salina in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 W. Fifth St., Florence, KS 66851.
∼Reuben Ivan Kerbs, 85, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at the Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas.
He was born Jan. 13, 1924, in Tampa to Godfrey and Lydia (Steinle) Kerbs. He graduated from Tampa High School. On September 14, 1952 he married Lucille Gooding at Tampa. He was railroad signal maintainer for 40 years, beginning with the Rock Island and retiring from the Southern Pacific in 1985.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harold Kerbs; and two grandchildren, Angel Kerbs and Dylan Kerbs.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille, of Tampa; daughter, Connie Thompson, of Abilene; sons, Glenn, of Dodge City, Tim, of Salina, and Russ, of Tampa; eight grandchildren, Reuben Kerbs II, April Kerbs, Clayton Kerbs, Ashton Smith, Molly Kerbs, Allison Phillips, Rustyn Kerbs and Taylor Thompson; and two great-grandchildren, Charlotte Kerbs and Sydney Smith.
Officiating was Reverend Clark M. Davis; Organist, Betty Mueller and Soloist was Leah Kerbs.
A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday with visitation until 9 p.m. at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Tampa, followed by interment in Tampa Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or the Tammy Walker Cancer Center of Salina, in care of the Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 West Fifth Street, Florence, Kansas.
This was written by Reuben Kerbs about his own life:
"I was born on the family farm one -half mile south of Tampa on the east side of the road. I was baptized on April 13, 1924. My sponsors were George and Maria Kerbs. I was confirmed on January 21, 1936, and my confirmation verse was John 6:68 (Simon Peter answered him Lord, to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.)
I went through all twelve grades of school at Tampa, then had a major set back in October, 1937, when I broke my leg playing football and was laid up for about six months. So I lost one year in school, graduating from high school in 1942.
My first job that amounted to anything after graduating from high school was helping build the concrete water tower on the new Herrington Air Base. The air base was about seven miles east of Herington near the small town of Delavan.
My next job was working for the Meadow Gold Creamery located in the 200 block of North Seneca in Wichita. Uncle Henry Kerbs got me a job helping him in the Meadow Gold Barn on North Osage taking care of about 35 horses they used on the milk routes. We got up about 4 a.m., fed the horses, harnessed them and hitched them to the milk wagons. The reason they were using horses was because of the gas shortage during the ward. After I worked there about a month a route came open and I got the job of delivering milk. My route was on Riverside. It went from Amidon Street on the west to the river on the East and North to 29th Street.
In May 1944, I quit my job at Meadow Gold. I had to go to Leavenworth for a physical for induction into the armed services, but due to my bad leg I failed the physical.
The summer of 1944, I stayed home and helped Dad with the harvest. Then in October I started to work for the Rock Island Railroad, then quit in May 1945. Then I started back on the railroad in August 1945, and stayed with it 'til January 1985. I worked up and down the Panhandle Division which was from Herington, Kansas to Tucumcari, New Mexico for about three years until the Signal Maintenance job came up at Tampa in January 1949. I was lucky enough to get the Tampa job and stayed with it until I retired in January 1985."
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each, I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints; other times there was only one.
During the low periods of my life I could see only one set of footprints, so I said, "You promised me, Lord, that you would walk with me always.
Why, when I have needed you most, you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you."
The service was Monday, Feb. 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 425 Main St., Tampa. Burial followed in the Tampa Lutheran Cemetery.
He was born Jan. 13, 1924, to Godfrey and Lydia (Steinle) Kerbs in Tampa. On Sept. 14, 1952, he was married to Lucille Gooding, who survives him.
Other survivors include a daughter Connie Thompson of Abilene; three sons, Glenn of Dodge City, Tim of Salina and Russ of Tampa; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or to the Tammy Walker Cancer Center of Salina in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 W. Fifth St., Florence, KS 66851.
∼Reuben Ivan Kerbs, 85, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at the Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas.
He was born Jan. 13, 1924, in Tampa to Godfrey and Lydia (Steinle) Kerbs. He graduated from Tampa High School. On September 14, 1952 he married Lucille Gooding at Tampa. He was railroad signal maintainer for 40 years, beginning with the Rock Island and retiring from the Southern Pacific in 1985.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harold Kerbs; and two grandchildren, Angel Kerbs and Dylan Kerbs.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille, of Tampa; daughter, Connie Thompson, of Abilene; sons, Glenn, of Dodge City, Tim, of Salina, and Russ, of Tampa; eight grandchildren, Reuben Kerbs II, April Kerbs, Clayton Kerbs, Ashton Smith, Molly Kerbs, Allison Phillips, Rustyn Kerbs and Taylor Thompson; and two great-grandchildren, Charlotte Kerbs and Sydney Smith.
Officiating was Reverend Clark M. Davis; Organist, Betty Mueller and Soloist was Leah Kerbs.
A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday with visitation until 9 p.m. at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Tampa, followed by interment in Tampa Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or the Tammy Walker Cancer Center of Salina, in care of the Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 West Fifth Street, Florence, Kansas.
This was written by Reuben Kerbs about his own life:
"I was born on the family farm one -half mile south of Tampa on the east side of the road. I was baptized on April 13, 1924. My sponsors were George and Maria Kerbs. I was confirmed on January 21, 1936, and my confirmation verse was John 6:68 (Simon Peter answered him Lord, to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.)
I went through all twelve grades of school at Tampa, then had a major set back in October, 1937, when I broke my leg playing football and was laid up for about six months. So I lost one year in school, graduating from high school in 1942.
My first job that amounted to anything after graduating from high school was helping build the concrete water tower on the new Herrington Air Base. The air base was about seven miles east of Herington near the small town of Delavan.
My next job was working for the Meadow Gold Creamery located in the 200 block of North Seneca in Wichita. Uncle Henry Kerbs got me a job helping him in the Meadow Gold Barn on North Osage taking care of about 35 horses they used on the milk routes. We got up about 4 a.m., fed the horses, harnessed them and hitched them to the milk wagons. The reason they were using horses was because of the gas shortage during the ward. After I worked there about a month a route came open and I got the job of delivering milk. My route was on Riverside. It went from Amidon Street on the west to the river on the East and North to 29th Street.
In May 1944, I quit my job at Meadow Gold. I had to go to Leavenworth for a physical for induction into the armed services, but due to my bad leg I failed the physical.
The summer of 1944, I stayed home and helped Dad with the harvest. Then in October I started to work for the Rock Island Railroad, then quit in May 1945. Then I started back on the railroad in August 1945, and stayed with it 'til January 1985. I worked up and down the Panhandle Division which was from Herington, Kansas to Tucumcari, New Mexico for about three years until the Signal Maintenance job came up at Tampa in January 1949. I was lucky enough to get the Tampa job and stayed with it until I retired in January 1985."
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each, I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints; other times there was only one.
During the low periods of my life I could see only one set of footprints, so I said, "You promised me, Lord, that you would walk with me always.
Why, when I have needed you most, you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you."
Reuben Kerbs, 85, retired railroad signal maintainer with Southern Pacific, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Salina Regional Health Center.
The service was Monday, Feb. 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 425 Main St., Tampa. Burial followed in the Tampa Lutheran Cemetery.
He was born Jan. 13, 1924, to Godfrey and Lydia (Steinle) Kerbs in Tampa. On Sept. 14, 1952, he was married to Lucille Gooding, who survives him.
Other survivors include a daughter Connie Thompson of Abilene; three sons, Glenn of Dodge City, Tim of Salina and Russ of Tampa; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or to the Tammy Walker Cancer Center of Salina in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 W. Fifth St., Florence, KS 66851.
∼Reuben Ivan Kerbs, 85, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at the Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas.
He was born Jan. 13, 1924, in Tampa to Godfrey and Lydia (Steinle) Kerbs. He graduated from Tampa High School. On September 14, 1952 he married Lucille Gooding at Tampa. He was railroad signal maintainer for 40 years, beginning with the Rock Island and retiring from the Southern Pacific in 1985.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harold Kerbs; and two grandchildren, Angel Kerbs and Dylan Kerbs.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille, of Tampa; daughter, Connie Thompson, of Abilene; sons, Glenn, of Dodge City, Tim, of Salina, and Russ, of Tampa; eight grandchildren, Reuben Kerbs II, April Kerbs, Clayton Kerbs, Ashton Smith, Molly Kerbs, Allison Phillips, Rustyn Kerbs and Taylor Thompson; and two great-grandchildren, Charlotte Kerbs and Sydney Smith.
Officiating was Reverend Clark M. Davis; Organist, Betty Mueller and Soloist was Leah Kerbs.
A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday with visitation until 9 p.m. at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Tampa, followed by interment in Tampa Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or the Tammy Walker Cancer Center of Salina, in care of the Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 West Fifth Street, Florence, Kansas.
This was written by Reuben Kerbs about his own life:
"I was born on the family farm one -half mile south of Tampa on the east side of the road. I was baptized on April 13, 1924. My sponsors were George and Maria Kerbs. I was confirmed on January 21, 1936, and my confirmation verse was John 6:68 (Simon Peter answered him Lord, to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.)
I went through all twelve grades of school at Tampa, then had a major set back in October, 1937, when I broke my leg playing football and was laid up for about six months. So I lost one year in school, graduating from high school in 1942.
My first job that amounted to anything after graduating from high school was helping build the concrete water tower on the new Herrington Air Base. The air base was about seven miles east of Herington near the small town of Delavan.
My next job was working for the Meadow Gold Creamery located in the 200 block of North Seneca in Wichita. Uncle Henry Kerbs got me a job helping him in the Meadow Gold Barn on North Osage taking care of about 35 horses they used on the milk routes. We got up about 4 a.m., fed the horses, harnessed them and hitched them to the milk wagons. The reason they were using horses was because of the gas shortage during the ward. After I worked there about a month a route came open and I got the job of delivering milk. My route was on Riverside. It went from Amidon Street on the west to the river on the East and North to 29th Street.
In May 1944, I quit my job at Meadow Gold. I had to go to Leavenworth for a physical for induction into the armed services, but due to my bad leg I failed the physical.
The summer of 1944, I stayed home and helped Dad with the harvest. Then in October I started to work for the Rock Island Railroad, then quit in May 1945. Then I started back on the railroad in August 1945, and stayed with it 'til January 1985. I worked up and down the Panhandle Division which was from Herington, Kansas to Tucumcari, New Mexico for about three years until the Signal Maintenance job came up at Tampa in January 1949. I was lucky enough to get the Tampa job and stayed with it until I retired in January 1985."
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each, I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints; other times there was only one.
During the low periods of my life I could see only one set of footprints, so I said, "You promised me, Lord, that you would walk with me always.
Why, when I have needed you most, you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you."
The service was Monday, Feb. 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 425 Main St., Tampa. Burial followed in the Tampa Lutheran Cemetery.
He was born Jan. 13, 1924, to Godfrey and Lydia (Steinle) Kerbs in Tampa. On Sept. 14, 1952, he was married to Lucille Gooding, who survives him.
Other survivors include a daughter Connie Thompson of Abilene; three sons, Glenn of Dodge City, Tim of Salina and Russ of Tampa; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or to the Tammy Walker Cancer Center of Salina in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 W. Fifth St., Florence, KS 66851.
∼Reuben Ivan Kerbs, 85, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at the Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas.
He was born Jan. 13, 1924, in Tampa to Godfrey and Lydia (Steinle) Kerbs. He graduated from Tampa High School. On September 14, 1952 he married Lucille Gooding at Tampa. He was railroad signal maintainer for 40 years, beginning with the Rock Island and retiring from the Southern Pacific in 1985.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harold Kerbs; and two grandchildren, Angel Kerbs and Dylan Kerbs.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille, of Tampa; daughter, Connie Thompson, of Abilene; sons, Glenn, of Dodge City, Tim, of Salina, and Russ, of Tampa; eight grandchildren, Reuben Kerbs II, April Kerbs, Clayton Kerbs, Ashton Smith, Molly Kerbs, Allison Phillips, Rustyn Kerbs and Taylor Thompson; and two great-grandchildren, Charlotte Kerbs and Sydney Smith.
Officiating was Reverend Clark M. Davis; Organist, Betty Mueller and Soloist was Leah Kerbs.
A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday with visitation until 9 p.m. at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Tampa, followed by interment in Tampa Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or the Tammy Walker Cancer Center of Salina, in care of the Zeiner Funeral Home, 104 West Fifth Street, Florence, Kansas.
This was written by Reuben Kerbs about his own life:
"I was born on the family farm one -half mile south of Tampa on the east side of the road. I was baptized on April 13, 1924. My sponsors were George and Maria Kerbs. I was confirmed on January 21, 1936, and my confirmation verse was John 6:68 (Simon Peter answered him Lord, to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.)
I went through all twelve grades of school at Tampa, then had a major set back in October, 1937, when I broke my leg playing football and was laid up for about six months. So I lost one year in school, graduating from high school in 1942.
My first job that amounted to anything after graduating from high school was helping build the concrete water tower on the new Herrington Air Base. The air base was about seven miles east of Herington near the small town of Delavan.
My next job was working for the Meadow Gold Creamery located in the 200 block of North Seneca in Wichita. Uncle Henry Kerbs got me a job helping him in the Meadow Gold Barn on North Osage taking care of about 35 horses they used on the milk routes. We got up about 4 a.m., fed the horses, harnessed them and hitched them to the milk wagons. The reason they were using horses was because of the gas shortage during the ward. After I worked there about a month a route came open and I got the job of delivering milk. My route was on Riverside. It went from Amidon Street on the west to the river on the East and North to 29th Street.
In May 1944, I quit my job at Meadow Gold. I had to go to Leavenworth for a physical for induction into the armed services, but due to my bad leg I failed the physical.
The summer of 1944, I stayed home and helped Dad with the harvest. Then in October I started to work for the Rock Island Railroad, then quit in May 1945. Then I started back on the railroad in August 1945, and stayed with it 'til January 1985. I worked up and down the Panhandle Division which was from Herington, Kansas to Tucumcari, New Mexico for about three years until the Signal Maintenance job came up at Tampa in January 1949. I was lucky enough to get the Tampa job and stayed with it until I retired in January 1985."
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each, I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints; other times there was only one.
During the low periods of my life I could see only one set of footprints, so I said, "You promised me, Lord, that you would walk with me always.
Why, when I have needed you most, you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you."
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