Kenneth E. Spitz

Garden City- Kenneth Edward Spitz, a man of faith, family, and service, passed away while residing at Garden Valley Retirement Village in Garden City, KS on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

Kenneth was born on June 16, 1947 in Hastings, NE to Edward and Winifred (Chevalier) Spitz. He grew up in Hastings and graduated from St. Cecilia High School in 1965. He proudly served in the United States Navy as an Electronics Technician Second Class (ETN2) and was stationed aboard the USS Halsey (DLG-23) during the Vietnam War, where he contributed to vital rescue and communications missions in the South China Sea.

On December 18, 1967, Kenneth married the love of his life, Anita Christine Kimes, and their marriage was blessed with nine children. They made Doniphan, NE their home for 21 years and Kenneth worked as a two-way radio technician in Grand Island. In 1996, Kenneth and Christine relocated to Garden City, KS, where Kenneth accepted a position with the Federal Aviation Administration. In 2019, he retired from the FAA as an Airway Transportation Systems Specialist where he maintained and supported critical communications and navigation systems essential to national airspace safety.

A deeply religious and loyal man, Kenneth's life was rooted in faith, family, and learning. A man of deep curiosity and conviction, Kenneth pursued knowledge his entire life through books, educational television, and countless hours of personal research. His learning was self-driven and purposeful with a genuine desire to understand the world around him and the subjects that fascinated him the most. He was known for his strong opinions, sharp intellect, and knowledge in his favorite subjects: the Bible, science, mathematics, and war history. He was always ready for a conversation-whether theological or technical-and often left those around him challenged and thinking more deeply. Kenneth was immensely proud of his wife's work as a midwife and supported her every step of the way and even assisted in the homebirth of several of their own children.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his beloved wife Christine, his parents, his brother-in-law Danny Platt, and his grandson, Micah Clark.

Survivors left to honor and cherish his memory are his nine children: Rebecca (Albert) Clark of Dannebrog, NE; Christopher (Julie) Spitz of Boise, ID; Daniella (Jim) McChesney of Ogallala, NE; Bathsheba (Dustin) Richardson of Garden City, KS; Elihu (Naveena) Spitz of Austin, TX; Samuel Spitz of Grand Island, NE; Angela (Shawn) Shepard of Quinter, KS; Isaac (April) Spitz of St. Paul, NE; and Jerusha (Michael) Ratcliffe, along with eighteen grandchildren: James (Melissa), Hannah, Colton, Sarah, and Noah Clark; Justin, Jeremy (Melissa), and Jolie-Ann Boyll, Ethan Richardson; Sonia and Meena Spitz; Cristian Lopez and Draiman Spitz; Cassandra (Matt) Wertz, Cody and Lea Richardson; Anita and Rex, along with five great-grandchildren: Liam, Lauren, Kayla Wertz, Betty Boyll, Michah Lopez, and a sixth great-grandbaby on the way. Kenneth is also survived by his siblings: Charlotte (Larry) Smith of Boelus, NE; Mary (Tim) Smith of Oceanside, CA; and Fred (Linda) Spitz of Glenvil, NE, and his wife's siblings: Judy (Dennis) Largent, Elaine Platt, Jeff (Shannon) Kimes, and David (Christine) Kimes, along with several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 am Thursday October 16, 2025 at Garnand Funeral Home of Garden City with Pastor Chad Ulrich officiating. Burial will take place at the Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska.