Michael L. Kimberly

Michael L. Kimberly 76, lifelong Big Springs farmer died September 24, 2014 in Aurora, CO from renal failure due to kidney cancer for 11 years. He was a two time cancer survivor for 12 years with prostate and kidney cancer. In his later years he also battled with Alzheimers. Michael L. Kimberly was born January 14, 1938, in Denver, CO the son of Leslie B. & Ora Louise (Anderson) Kimberly. He was raised and lived his life on the family farm in Big Springs. He graduated from Big Springs High School in 1955. He attended Colorado A&M majoring in General Agriculture and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 1961. He was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. Mike was drafted into the Army and after eight weeks of boot camp in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he began advanced training at the Military Police Academy in Fort Gordon, Georgia. He then was sent to Fort Meyer, Virginia which is located in Arlington, Virginia just outside Washington DC. He performed all facets of police duties within Arlington National Cemetery and other areas of Fort Meyer until discharged in October of 1963. Mike married Kay Plummer of Brule, NE in 1966. They moved onto the family homestead south of Big Springs and to this union were four daughters. Mike was a lifelong member of the Big Springs United Methodist Church serving on many boards and committees. He served on the Farmers Coop Association Elevator board for 15 years, Miller Memorial Nursing Home Board in Chappell for 8 years, Secretary of the Western Irrigation Canal Board for 18 years, and the Big Springs Rural Fire District Board for 12 years and was on the planning committee that built the current Fire Hall in Big Springs. He was also a member of the South Platte Natural Resources District, the Big Springs Cemetery Board and served four terms as the President of the Big Springs High School Alumni Association. Some of Mikes greatest joys in life and fondest memories included working on his farm, helping his daughters with their 4-H livestock projects and the many long friendships that he established. Mike and Kay enjoyed doing some traveling in their later years and his favorite trips were going down the inside passage of Alaska and through the Panama Canal. Preceding him in death were his parents and a son-in-law Scott Smith, Sr. Survivors include his wife Kay Kimberly of Big Springs, and four daughters: Ellen (Dick) Powell of Deer Trail, CO, Brenda (Brent) Aufdenkamp of North Platte, Michelle Kimberly (Stan) Rhoades and Mary Kimberly (Keith) Eisenzimmer, all of Big Springs. Seventeen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and a cousin Kenneth Anderson of Fort Collins, CO. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 4th at 10:00 AM in the Big Springs United Methodist Church with Rev. Alice Koech will officiate, assisted by Rev. Chuck Rager of the Ogallala First United Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Ogallala Cemetery with Military Honors. Memorials have been established in his memory with the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimers Association Nebraska Chapter, and The Nebraska 4-H Foundation for the Keith County 4-H program and the Big Springs Fire & Rescue Department.

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