John Kibbie

JOHN "ED" KIBBIE

Palo

John Edward "Ed" Kibbie, 70, of Palo, died suddenly Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, of natural causes at home in peace. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Phillips Funeral Home, Vinton, with the Rev. John

Howerton officiating. Burial will be in Palo Cemetery following the services. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Phillips Funeral Home, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton.

Condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneral homes.com.

Ed was born Dec. 6, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Richard R. and Nellie M. (Spurgeon) Kibbie. He grew up in Shellsburg and graduated from Shellsburg High School in 1963. He married his one true love, Ruth L. Yates, on June 6, 1965. The couple made their home in Shellsburg while Ed worked at Allis Chalmers for six years. He worked at Harnischfeger for another year and began farming in Palo with his father-in-law, Howard, and grandfather-in-law, Guy. He felt he learned a lot from Granddad Guy.

All said, Ed devoted his life to his passion of farming. He began working for Don Beatty in eighth grade and worked for Ron Beatty throughout high school, where his passion was born. He eventually worked the home farm in Palo for 45 years.

He loved/hated politics. He was a member of Benton City Masonic Lodge 81, where he served as past master; Order of Eastern Star, where he was past patron of White Lily Chapter 427; El Kahir Shrine; and Palo Cemetery board.

He enjoyed watching old Western movies and going to farm auctions.

He loved to visit with old friends and make new ones, and he read his Bible and tried to live by it.

Ed and Ruth celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this summer with family and friends by taking a trip to Chicago to see Shedd Aquarium. He had also done a little world traveling with the encouragement of his wife.

Survivors include his loving wife, Ruth; his son and daughter-in-law, Eddie and Janet Kibbie of Palo; his daughter, Juliana of Traer; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Shelby Kibbie and Walter Loesch, Tristin Hamm, KaMaury and Scarletta Loesch; Augusta and Aaron Nelson, Madison and Gracie Nelson; and Jamison and Desirae Reisner.

He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Karolynn and Nate Roehr; mother-in-law, Naomi Yates; sisters-in-law, Anna Kibbie and Ellen Yates; aunt, Tracy Spurgeon; many nieces and nephews; and his stepmother, Kathleen Kibbie.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert Kibbie; his father-in-law, Howard Yates; and his brother-in-law, Dale Yates.

Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army or charity of the donor's choice.

He will be greatly missed by all of the family and friends whom he touched.