Rex J. Kiser

Rex Joseph Kiser, 83, of Olathe, Kansas passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family's love, at Kansas University Medical Center, on Tuesday, October 30, 2007. Funeral Services will be Saturday, Nov 3, at 1:30 p.m. at Wilson & Son Chapel, 305 N Pearl, Paola, KS. Burial, with military honors, will be held immediately after the service at the Paola Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, Nov 2, from 6-7:30 p.m at the chapel. The family suggests that contributions be made to First Presbyterian Church Paola or American Heart Association c/o the funeral home. Rex was born on August 28, 1924, to Otis and Bertha Kiser and was the youngest of five children. He lived in Paola for over 80 years and received his education in the Miami County schools. He enlisted with the U.S. Army in July, 1943 and served with the 142nd A.A.A. Gun Bn. while in battle in France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, and Louxembourg. After returning home from the service in 1946, he married Dorothy Schlotman on April 21, 1946, who had also returned to Paola from Active Duty with the U.S. Coast Guard SPARS in Honolulu, Hawaii. Rex then attended the Moler Barber College and after graduation in 1947 established the Kiser Barber Shop, on the south side of the square where he worked until his retirement in 1986. In addition to being a barber, Rex took great interest in the Paola Community. He served eight years on the Board of Education. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce for over 50 years. His interest in veteran's affairs led him to join the Sheldon-Banta Post #3712 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and in 1959, he was elected State Commander of the Department of Kansas V.F.W. In 1961, Rex was elected Mayor of Paola and served in that capacity until 1971. His first priority after election was changing the city government to Mayor-Manager-Council form of government. Paola's first City Manager was hired in 1962 and a period of progress began and still continues today. Many projects were completed during his 10 years in office, Paola's first sewer lagoon; a facelift for downtown which included new store fronts and red sidewalks; housing for the elderly; Lakemary Center; Hillsdale Lake; expansion of Taylor Forge; a cemetery expansion and many other projects too numerous to mention. Rex served as the President of the Hillsdale Lake and Area Development Assn. and joined the group on many trips to Washington, D.C. to secure funding from Congress for the planning and construction of Hillsdale Lake. For twenty-seven years, he served on the Board of Directors of First Kansas Federal Savings Bank (now Landmark Bank). He was a member of the American Legion and First Presbyterian Church. In 1986, the Paola Lions Club named Rex "Man of the Year". Rex made many close and great friends, enjoyed his family and everything he accomplished in life. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Those preceding him in death, were his parents, two brothers, and two sisters. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Dorothy Kiser of Olathe, KS; daughter Janet Schnoor of Olathe, KS; son, Douglas Kiser of Springhill, KS; grandson, Randy Kiser of Longview, TX; granddaughter, Melissa Kiser of Tyler, TX; daughter-in-law, Kim Kiser and son- in-law Art Schnoor.