Kenneth Herbig

Kenneth Herbig, age 87, of Aurora died Sunday evening, November 19, 2000, at the Hamilton Manor in Aurora.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Aurora. Dr. Joe Scahill will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M., Tuesday at Higby Mortuary.

OBITUARY: KENNETH HERBIG

Kenneth J. Herbig, the son of Walter and Pearl (Pillard) Herbig, was born in Marquette, Nebraska on August 14, 1913 and died in Aurora, Nebraska on November 19, 2000, at the age of 87 years, 3 months and 6 days.

He grew up in Hampton until he was 12 years old, when the family moved to Marquette. Kenneth attended Marquette High School until the 10th grade, when he quit school to start farming with his dad. Early in his life, and during the depression and the dust bowl, he went to Western Nebraska to pick potatoes to earn enough money to buy Oral an engagement ring.

Kenneth was united in marriage to Oral Day on March 31, 1935. They farmed in Marquette. He supplemented their farm income by working with Oral’s father who was a bricklayer in Hamilton County. In the 1950’s he bought and built a flying service at the Grand Island Airport with Tom Hume and ran that for 10 years. They serviced small aircraft housed in Grand Island. During that time, he continued farming. In 1973, he bought an Auto Parts Store in Aurora and called it K&D Auto Parts. During several winters while they were still farming, they went to Phoenix, where he worked for an aircraft manufacturer. In 1975 when they left farming, he and Oral built a new home in Aurora. He actively ran K&D Auto Parts until he retired. Ken and Oral enjoyed traveling to Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, and throughout the United States. They had a big garden and yard until 1998, when he entered the Hamilton Manor.

Ken’s interest’s included flying and boating. He owned an Aeronica Champion airplane and piloted for a number of years flying in to “fly in’s” across the country. He was an accomplished water skier and was willing to teach anyone to water ski who had the interest in learning. Ken owned and rode a motorcycle until he was 80. He built and restored sports cars, and several boats, including a hovercraft and airboat, which provided entertainment for family and friends.

Ken was elected to the Marquette School Board while the children were in school. He also served on the board of the Valley View Golf Club, and ushered at the Evangelical United Brethren/Methodist Church. During and after World War II he organized and was active in the Civil Air Patrol.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Donald, and one sister, Lillian Bickford.

Survivors include his wife, Oral of Aurora; son, Robert J. Herbig and his wife Evelyn of Central City; daughter, Sandra Burvant and her husband Dr. Michael Burvant of Folsom, California; five grandchildren, Blake Simmons of New Orleans, Louisiana, Suzie Simmons of Omaha, Michael Herbig and his wife Ann and Steven Herbig and his wife Julie all of Central City and Diana Kula of Lincoln.