Mr. Kenneth H. Chase

Kenneth Harold Chase, 89 of Elsmere, Nebraska, passed away on January 11, 2019, at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth, Nebraska. He was born to Rex LeRoy and Revia Jane (Wysong) Chase on September 23, 1929 in Ainsworth.
Ken attended school through 8th grade, then returned home to help on the family ranch in Elsmere. He married Carolyn Elaine Babbitt, on June 2, 1957, and they made their home in Elsmere, where they raised three daughters.
Ken was a life long rancher on the homestead of Ramsey and Lucrecia Wysong, established in 1895. He and his dad Rex, started raising registered Polled Herefords in the 1960’s. Ken enjoyed taking his bulls to several bull test stations in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, winning many top feed efficiency awards. Ken was very active in the Nebraska Polled Hereford Association and held various offices over the years. He and Carolyn had the pleasure of hosting the Polled Hereford Tour in 1991. In 1978 Ken and Carolyn went on the People to People Tour to Australia and New Zealand where they enjoyed seeing the agricultural landscape and practices. Ken served in various organizations including; the Fair Board, 4-H Leader, School Board, and as Sunday School Superintendent. He loved going to Beef and Range Judging Contests, bowling weekly with the Elsmere Bowling League, the Elsmereite Card Club, and going to the Senior Center weekly to play Pitch.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Rex and Revia Chase, wife, Carolyn, brothers, John (Twyla) Chase, Gary (Janet) Chase, and Robert Chase, sister, Emma Grimes, sister-in-law, Marylyn Shehee, and brothers-in-law, Homer Babbitt, Mike Davis, and five nephews.
He leaves as his legacy, three daughters: Jackie (Jim) Kavalec of Burwell, Nebraska, Julie Chase of Elsmere, and Patty (Terry) Shoemaker of Elsmere. He also leaves to cherish his memory four grandchildren: Chase Staudenmaier (Heather) of Harrison, Nebraska, Leah Shoemaker, Clint Shoemaker, and Terra Shoemaker all of Elsmere. Two great-grandchildren: Mason Staudenmaier of Harrison and Gracie Gillespie of Elsmere; Sister, Erma Davis of Merriman, Nebraska; Brothers-in-law, Steve (Sally) Babbitt of Broken Bow, Nebraska, Gary (Sharon) Babbitt of Richland, Washington, Herman Shehee of Griffin, Georgia. and Ralph Grimes of Bradenton, Florida; Sisters-in-law, Collen Chase of Bullhead City, Arizona, Scottie (Lee) Cadwell of Lilburn, Georgia, Nancy (Ernie) Drent of Beatrice, Nebraska, and Mary Babbitt of Chesapeake, Virginia; along with nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Funeral Services were held on January 16, 2019 at the Elsmere Bible Church in Elsmere, Nebraska. Pastor Les Canfield officiated the service. “Where The Roses Never Fade” (words by Carolyn Chase) was provided by Les and Shareen Canfield, and Mel Coffman and Dan Carson provided the song selections of “I Saw The Light,” “Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” and “Billy Bayou.” Pallbearers were Clint Shoemaker, Chase Staudenmaier, Levi Babbitt, Aaron McCormick, and Cort Scheer, and Clete Scheer. Honorary bearers were, Steve Babbitt, Gary Babbitt, Jim Decker, Mike Davis, Mic Coffman, Ernie Drent, and Gerry Chase, and all of Ken’s other family and friends. A luncheon immediately followed the service, and the Graveside Service then followed at 1:30 PM at the Purdum Cemetery in Purdum, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, memorials were suggested to the family for a future designation. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was in charge of the arrangements.
Regarding memorial direction: In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for a future designation.