KEARNEY — Kent S. Smallcomb, 76, of Kearney died Friday, June 30, 2017, at his home.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Sylvia High Karlsson officiating. Burial will be at Kearney Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home.
Kent Stan Smallcomb was born on July 4, 1940, in Chappell to Edward and Myrtle (Harris) Smallcomb. He grew up in Kearney and was a 1958 graduate of Kearney High School. After graduation, he joined the Nebraska National Guard. In 1964, he graduated from Kearney State College where he was a member of Phi Tau Gamma and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternities.
Kent married Joan Casper on Jan. 28, 1962, at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Hildreth. Four sons were born to this union: Jeffrey, Heath, Kenneth and David.
He became a field director for the American Heart Associations in Kansas, Northern California and Southern Illinois. In 1974, they returned to Kearney to operate and later own Hilltop Bowling Lanes. After retiring in 1997, Kent began his 20-year career working at Ace Hardware.
Kent was a member of First Lutheran Church, 1733 Kearney Area Barbershop Chorus, Patent Pending Quartet, Kearney Men’s Bowling Association, Kearney Bowling Hall of Fame and Eagles Club.
Kent and Jo were honored to be awarded the Kearney Hub Freedom Award in 1998, and in 2007 to be inducted into the Nebraska Bowling Proprietor’s Hall of Fame. In May 2017, Kent participated in his 32nd National Bowling Tournament. In 2004, Kent and his bowling partner, Larry Harrington, won the Classified Doubles Division of this tournament.
Singing was a very special part of Kent’s life. He shared his talent honoring friends at their wedding, funeral or special events. His quartet singing began in 1958.
Kent also enjoyed gardening. He took pride in his flower and gardening displays at the Buffalo County and Nebraska State fairs.
Kent was a regular participant in Cruise Nite and the Gibbon Fourth of July parade. He enjoyed taking his grandkids for a ride in his 1951 Ford convertible.
Kent is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jo; sons, Jeff and wife Jodi of Broken Bow, Heath and wife Amanda of Kearney, Kenny and wife Amber of Sioux City, Iowa, and David of Kearney; grandchildren, Jake, Emily and fiancé Dillon Glause of Broken Bow, Emma and Beau of Sioux City and Jackson and wife Rachel, Cooper and Charleigh of Kearney; brother, Dale Smallcomb and wife Beverly of Tempe, Ariz.; sister-in-law, Glenda Smallcomb of Ukiah, Calif.; brother-in-law, Bob Vogt of Kearney; brothers-in-law, Larry Casper and wife Jane Hise and Dean Casper and wife Naomi Fritson; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Delwyn, Donald, David Dee, Oren and Darol; and his twin sister, Karen Vogt.
Memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church, Jubilee Center or the donor’s choice.
