Kenneth Mark Shobe

Kenneth Mark Shobe was born March 24, 1950, in Denver, Colorado, to parents Roy and Ann Wagner Shobe, Jr. He died on September 21, 2025, very peacefully in his home at the age of 75.

At the age of six, the family moved to Oberlin KS, where Kenny spent his childhood and where he always called "home". He was a graduate of Decatur Community High School with the class of 1968, Kansas State University, and the University of Southern California.

Upon graduation from Kansas State, Ken was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force and completed pilot training in Lubbock TX. He spent the next 23 years as a KC-135 tanker pilot and battle staff commander aboard the Airborne Command Post.

In 1969, he married Janice Wesch and they were blessed to be the parents of two children, Mark Joseph and Emily Esther. The family traveled with Ken as his Air Force career took the family to Portsmouth NH, Rapid City SD, Merced CA, and Omaha NE. Ken retired from the Air Force in 1995 at the rank of Lt. Colonel and the family relocated to Oberlin.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, Ken began a second career as a computer science instructor at McCook Community College, until he retired again in 2012. Throughout his adulthood, Ken found time to give back to whatever community he found himself living in, as a Cub Scout leader, soccer coach and referee, city council member, mayor, and active member of Rotary and the Oberlin United Methodist Church. He will also be remembered for hosting his annual Bathtub BBQs at the farm during fair week.

After being diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer in 2017, Ken spent the next eight years "living", never giving into the disease or complaining about his fate. His greatest joy was family, especially his son and daughter and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Emily; his parents; his sister, Christina; and his in-laws, Carl and Nila Wesch. He is survived by his wife, Janice, of Oberlin; son Mark, McCook NE; sisters Cindy (Don) Whiteley, Thornton CO; Becky (Wayne) Cooper, Edmond OK; Debby (Terry) Gunselman, Lawrence KS; Sandy (Terry) Rush, Oberlin; brothers Don (Ellen) Shobe, Lawrence KS; Joe (Marie) Shobe, Wichita KS; and Andy (Marcia) Shobe, Fayetteville AR; grandson Evan Shobe, Palmdale CA; granddaughters Celianna Shobe, Danielle Weyeneth, and Elizabeth Weyeneth, all of Oberlin; special family member Sara Weyeneth of Oberlin; brothers-in-law Jim (Pam) Wesch, and Jack (Jackie) Wesch; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Friday, September 26, 2025 at the Oberlin United Methodist Church at 10:00AM. Burial will be in the Oberlin Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be Thursday, September 25, 2025 at Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home from 1:00-7:00PM with the family receiving guests from 5:00-7:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Emily Shobe Memorial Art Scholarship Fund, the Oberlin United Methodist Church, or to Rotary International. Condolences can be left at www.plumergobber.com.