Born to John and Leona Kalebaugh he grew up in the Armordale/Argentine, Kansas area. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Kansas. He graduated from Argentine High School in 1949 and then attended and graduated from Kansas City, Kansas Jr College in 1951.
He met his wife, Esther Goldberg in 1950 and they were married on May 21, 1955 at Central Methodist Church. They had 2 children David, born September 7, 1959 and Susan, born January 27, 1962. Howard joined the Kansas National Guard and served for 10 years. He worked for the Rock Island Railroad for 9¹/₂ years before going to work for the Board of Public Utilities. He worked in the Lab, as an Electrician and was the Chief Electrician for 8 years before he retired in 1993.
Howard was a faithful member of Grace Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Kansas for 45 years and of Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Basehor, Kansas for 12 years. He served as Trustee, was an Elder and served as Chairman of the Congregation.
He leaves behind his wife, Esther Kalebaugh, his son, David Kalebaugh, his daughter, Susan Stauch, a daughter-in-law, Tammy Kalebaugh, a son-in-law, Gary Stauch a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Marie Kalebaugh, 4 grandchildren, Brande Kalebaugh, Erin Bauer, Amanda Dowdall and Isaac Kalebaugh, 4 great-grandchildren, Johnathan and Jayla Newberry, Reagan Bauer and Lena Dowdall, nieces and nephews and many many dear friends.
This short obituary can not possibly do justice to a life so well lived, for my dad was a man of courage, strength, love, humor, honesty and dignity but above all he was a man of faith.
He was married to and loved my mom for 64 years. Matthew 19:4-6 Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
He raised David and me to love and fear the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
He was always ready to share the Word of God with anyone who would listen.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.
And the Master said, "Well done, good and faithful servant”.
