Joe Donald Kerby

My dad, Joe Donald Kerby, died @ 11:05 am May 16, 2014. He had just gotten a sponge bath from a sweet young hospice CNA; it was a peaceful passing at his assisted living residence at Homestead of Lakewood, CO. What a way to go. He had only been on hospice 10 days. Neva Kerby died after 14 days on in home hospice February 24, 2014 between 1:00 and 2:00 am. They were both the last of their siblings.

Dad was born at home to Iris Gertrude Barnett-Kerby and Lester Franklin Kerby on 08/16/1921 in Appanoosa County, Iowa. Joe’s paternal grandparents (John and Alice Kerby) told Iris and Lester if they named their son “Joe” (after his great, great grandfather), they would buy Joe’”s first suit. Iris wanted to name Dad Donald but made that his middle name so Dad could get his suit; he got it when he was 7 years old. Jeremiah (Jerry) Francis Barnett and Leeta Latitia Maxwell-Barnett were his maternal grandparents. Uncle Darrell found Leeta’s maiden name was Walls but the internet is saying Maxwell.

Dad had three younger brothers: Noel Richard Kerby 06/07/1923 – 03/19/2011, Darrell Wayne Kerby 07/19/1925 – 01/12/2000 and Jerry Franklin Kerby 10/14/1942. Jerry died a few hours after birth.

Dad always made a big deal of telling us he walked miles to school. He was president of his high school class of some 35 or so people. He played basketball for two years in high school Of course the hoops were lower than they are now so his 5’7” height wasn’t an issue. Dad wanted to be an engineer but there was no money for college.

Dad’s Grandpa Kerby had two farms (Dad was born on one of them). His Dad, Lester Kerby borrowed money from his own dad (John) for a farm but lost it in the depression. John Kerby then willed his own farm to his son Lester, where Lester lived his life and raised his family

Dad met his wife Neva LaRue Kinsler in the town square of Bloomfield, Iowa and was in love at first sight. At the age of 20 he, with his mom, Iris’ permission, married Neva in a small civil ceremony on a snowy, New Year’s Eve day in 1941. Even with the bad weather they drove to get their wedding picture taken. Dad locked the keys in the car. When they finally got back they spent their wedding night sleeping in the same room as Mom’s father James Lloyd Kinsler. What a wedding night!

Dad bought his farm from my Grandpa Kinsler (his father-in-law) with a $3000 down payment; Dad paid back it back within a year. He got a government loan for the rest.

When WWII was being fought, Dad got called up for service with some 60 or so other men. They had just planted crops so were deferred until harvest. By harvest time the war was over.

Two children were born: James Gary Kerby on 06/14/1944 and Marietta (pronounced Marita) Joyce Kerby on 01/05/1952. We are both alive but have never married with no children.

My parents farmed for 14 years. Dad says they raised chickens, along with hogs and cows. Unlike Grandpa Kerby, they did not have an incubator so ordered their chicks through the mail; the mailman often had a truck full of chirping chicks he was delivered to the farmers.

On a vacation to the west they found my brother James’ asthma symptoms all but disappeared which prompted them to sell almost everything they owned moving to Denver towing a small trailer in 1955. Dad worked a short time at Wards Department Store for $1.12/hr., then worked at Gates Rubber Company where he retired in the 1980’s.

A few years after he retired Gates closed their plant so I guess they just couldn’t handle it without Dad.

In 1965 Dad bought 5 acres of land in the mountains up Hwy 285. He designed and built the house himself, going up every night after work and on weekends. Mom and Dad lived in their mountain home from 1971 until about 1990. They sold the property & most of their belongings to travel and live in a 5th wheeler trailer. They lived this way for about 12 years, then came back to Denver.

Dad and Mom had all their faculties until the end of their life, remembering past and present.

This last time in the hospital (05/04/2014), the nurse needed medical history; she asked me if there were dementia issues. I told her to ask Dad and he rattled off everything that had ever been wrong with him, from getting his index finger caught in a washing machine when he was 4 or 5 to:

Heart attack in 1980 and 1992

By pass surgeries in 1992 and 1995

Prostate cancer in 1994

Knee replacements in 1999 and 2001

Shoulder surgery in 1980s.

That answered the question about dementia.

Grandma Kerby and Uncle Darrell both had heart issues as well.

Dad made friends easily and loved to talk, especially about himself and with his excellent memory he had lots of tales to tell.

As difficult as this is, we have been so lucky and I am grateful this process has been as easy as possible with Mom and Dad having their mental faculties and memories.

I saw their niche at Olinger’s at Crown Hill and one of their neighbors is “Ham”. That’s very appropriate since they did have pigs on the farm.