JERRY LYNN KIDD
1958-2023
Jerry Lynn Kidd, son of James P. and Wanda J. (Betts) Reed, was born November 25,1958, in Arvada, Colorado. He attended Auburn Public Schools, earned his GED, and took classes in auto body repair.
Jerry had been married to Lu (DeFreece) Young and Sandy Pasco. Although both marriages ended in divorce, he was blessed with four children: Michael, Kelley, Jeri, and Sabrina.
He enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids, and other family as well. Jerry was very artistic and was a tattoo artist for a period of time. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle and is remembered by his family for his baking and cooking.
A longtime resident of Brock, Nebraska, Jerry had owned multiple homes in town. He passed away unexpectedly at his home in Brock on Friday, November 4, 2023, at the age 64 years, 11 months, and 9 days. His mother, Wanda, preceded him in death.
Those left to remember Jerry with love and fondness include his son Michael DeFreece; daughters and son-in-law Kelley Lomax, Jeri and Matt Green, and Sabrina Kidd; grandchildren Kerry Varnell and Konner Lomax, Paige, Jade, Allora, and Alivia Green, Adelaide, Kolt, Remington, Brynleigh (and one on the way) Lotter; great-grandchild Aiden Varnell; father Jim Reed; brother and sister-in-law Jim and Jolene Reed; sister and brother-in-law Kristal and Delbert Jeanneret; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, November 11, 11:00 a.m. at American Legion Post #330 in Johnson.
Memorials are suggested to family choice.
Services entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn. Marvin L. Thomas, age 101, passed away November 5, 2023, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Marvin was born in Brownville, Nebraska, on April 7, 1922, to Frank and Frances Thomas. Along with their children Aurolyn, Marvin and Frank, the Thomas family and the Thomas Brother’s Grocery were fixtures in the Brownville community.
Marvin was valedictorian of his high school class and studied at Peru State College until the advent of World War II.
During the early war years, Marvin served as a production supervisor at North American Aviation where the B-25 Mitchell was manufactured. Marvin met his wife Norma inside a B-25 on the production line.
During Marvin’s time in the Army Air Force, he was an aviation electronics instructor and a staff cartoonist for military newsletters.
After the war, Marvin and Norma lived in Kansas City, Kansas, while Marvin worked as a draftsman while pursuing his architectural certifications via correspondence courses. After completing architectural training, Marvin and Norma moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1953 where Marvin started the architectural firm Marvin L. Thomas & Associates.
Marvin’s firm provided design and construction management services of homes, churches, schools and commercial buildings throughout Kansas. As vice president of the Kansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Marvin served as a mentor to countless members. Marvin left significant footprints which are exemplified by numerous buildings throughout Kansas to include buildings at Kansas State and Kansas universities, the Kansas State Historic Society’s Pottawatomie Baptist Mission Restoration and the Lorcher family homes in Sabetha. He occasionally was a guest lecturer in KU and KSU Architectural classes.
His book Architectural Working Drawings served as guidance to countless architects. He was an accomplished artist with a love of genealogy and history including research on the Pony Express in northeast Kansas.
Marvin and Norma were married 75 years. They had three daughters: Dianne Sperry and late husband Ben, Jo Mabary and husband Jerry, and Suzanne McPherson and husband Brad. They had 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and close extended family.
A celebration of life and burial for Marvin and Norma in Horton, Kansas will be announced.
The family requests donations to: Kansas State Historical Society Foundation https:// kshs.org Memorial for: Marvin and Norma Thomas, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66615.