Louis James Kash

Louis James Kash passed away peacefully at home on November 11, 2013, in Lexington, Nebraska. He was 93 years old. Louis was born April 5, 1920, at the family homestead near Winner, South Dakota, to Ethel (Smith) and Winnie Kash. With the help of one of his deceased mother’s sisters, Louis was able to attend high school in Valentine, Nebraska. His plans to attend the University of Nebraska were interrupted by World War II. A boy from a landlocked state, he enlisted in the Navy on November 6, 1941. He volunteered for service in the Pacific, but a severe illness prevented him from shipping out with his class. During his term in the service, he attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. It was while he was in the Navy that Louis met Margaret Mary Gyger of Julesburg, Colorado. Following their engagement, Louis arranged for Margaret to fly on the China Clipper to Hawaii from San Francisco. They were married at the Church of the Crossroads in Honolulu on February 14, 1946, and were married until her death in 1998. Following his discharge from the Navy, Louis and Margaret moved to Lincoln, where he completed his degree in agricultural engineering. They moved to Lexington in 1950 and Louis went to work for Walter Dunlap. When a lot became available on Cleveland Street, Louis bought it and, in the evening hours after work, single-handedly built a house for Margaret and their first child, Karen Margaret. Their son, Louis Mark, was born two years later. By the early 1950s, Louis had saved enough money to start his own business. Darr Fertilizer Company provided advice to local farmers regarding crop husbandry, in addition to selling the necessary fertilizers. At about the same time, Louis also began investing in his own farm land. In 1963, with Dr. Ed Watson, Louis recognized the need for quality care for the elderly in Dawson County, and together they built Westside Nursing Home, now known as Plum Creek Care Center. After a brief courtship, Sunya Peters became Louis’ wife on September 23, 2006. The couple has divided their time between homes in Arnold and in Lexington, with occasional travel to visit children and friends in other states. Together they have enjoyed bridge games with friends and attended grandchildren’s school activities and birthday parties. One of Louis’ many joys during the last decade was getting to know Sunny’s family: Cynthia and John Timmermier of Omaha; Stephanie and Charlie Delp of Tampa, Florida; and Melanie, Lane, Meredith and Dillon Chesley of Callaway. Louis was involved in the civic life of his adopted town, serving on the School Board for many years. He was a Shriner, a Mason and an active member of the Lexington Rotary as well as the VFW. For several years after his 80th birthday he volunteered at the Goodwill collection center in Lexington, receiving and organizing donations. Louis was an avid fisherman throughout his life and in later life was appreciative of friends who made sure he made it out to Johnson Lake a few times during the summer to try his hand at catching a bass. Louis enjoyed hunting and shot his last deer after he turned 90. Louis is survived by his wife, Sunya Peters Kash; his daughter, Karen and her husband, Joe W. Redden, of Houston; granddaughter, Jennifer, her husband Bradley LaRue and their sons, Louis James LaRue (3) and Alexander Kash LaRue (7 months) Of Houston, Texas: and grandson Michael Robert Jasa, his wife Jessica, and their sons, Henry Robert (4) and Jackson George (2) of Olathe, Kansas. His parents, his sister, Laurene Kash Hanson, and his son, Louis Mark Kash, preceded him in death. The family extends a special thanks to Marty Smith, Courtney Biehl, Lupe Carranza, Heather Vanburn, Dalia Quntana, Maria Reutlinger, Olga Gallego, Sandra Vicperino, Sherry Orozco and Kara Moomey and to the Lexington Hospice for their compassionate care. A funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Lexington at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2013 with Reverend Dr. Dyton Owen, officiating. Masonic Rites will be conducted from the church. Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 13, 2013, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Interment with military honors will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington. Family and friends are invited to join the family in celebrating Louis’ remarkable life at the service and afterward at Kirk’s. Those who wish to honor Louis’ memory are encouraged to donate to the Louis J. Kash Scholarship Foundation. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is assisting the family with arrangements. Please forward online condolences to the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.