Kenley Joe German, 86, the son of Kenneth Hadley German and Ellen Elizabeth (Shull) German was born March 9, 1934, in Glen Elder and died Feb. 18, in Deshler.
Kenley grew up and attended the local public schools in Glen Elder, and later attended Kansas State University, Manhattan,.
On June 6, 1954, he was united in marriage to Lela Don Fox. To this union three children were born: Craig, Deborah and Randall.
After leaving Kansas State, Kenley worked in Concordia at a creamery, making ice cream for a couple of years. He began his long railroad career with the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Shortly after, Kenley was hired as an agent-operator on the Rock Island Railroad,
working in numerous station stops across Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado, including Mahaska, Kan., before being assigned as the last depot
agent at Deshler. In 1977, Kenley and Lela Don moved to Colby, as he continued his work with the Rock Island Railroad. After the Rock Island shut down, he finished his career with the Union Pacific.
In 2004, Kenley and Lela Don moved to Deshler to be close to their family. He continued his special enthusiasm of sports, especially basketball and followed his grandchildren’s games and supported the local school teams. He and Lela Don shared a passion for researching the artifacts and history of the military and stage stations of the Smokey Hills Trail. They also enjoyed discovering their family genealogy and taking care of the family farm in Agenda. Kenley enjoyed adding to his many collections, especially the coins, pens and railroad memorabilia.
Kenley was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lela Don German; two infant sisters; his sister, Erma Luckey; his son, Randall German; and great grandson, Evan Zucker.
He is survived by one son, Craig German of Edgar; one daughter, Deborah Zucker of Deshler; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Richard German of Springfield, Mo. and Rodney German of Ft. Worth, Texas.
Cremation was selected and memorial service will be held at a later date.
Inurnment will be at the Zion Cemetery, rural Belleville.
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