Charles "Bill" William Kahrs

Charles William (Bill) Kahrs was born March 16, 1940 on the family farm south of Bloomington, Nebraska to Kenneth and Emily (Douglass) Kahrs. He was the third child born of six children. He was baptized in the UCC Church in Franklin on April 18, 1943, and confirmed in the Methodist Church in Bloomington. He attended school in Bloomington, Nebraska for twelve years and graduated with the class of 1957. He went to Kearney State College for one semester and decided that wasn’t for him. He came back to the farm to continue his agricultural education with his father, brothers, Doug and Jim, grandfather, and uncles.

On November 15, 1959 he married Janea (Bergman) Kahrs at the Franklin Methodist Church in Franklin, Nebraska. The draft was looking down on him and he knew he would soon be drafted so he joined the Army National Guard in Smith Center, Kansas in 1961. It was at a scary time, because the Cuban Crisis was looming on us. Bill and Janea didn’t have any children at the time and if you didn’t have children, you were to be drafted.

Bill’s life was the farm and his children. He enjoyed growing corn, beans, and milo. In the first years, Bill, Bonnie, and Doug started Kahrs Fertilizer together. They covered countless miles applying custom fertilizer and enjoying building relationships with customers. Bill and his brothers, Doug and Jim, and brother-in-law, Dennis Dorn, raised hundreds of hogs, sows, and baby pigs. They were in every shed on the farm. However, Bill’s passion was farming and raising an Angus cattle herd.

His life was not complete and the Lord blessed Bill and Janea with three wonderful children, Timothy, Tamra and Toby. From then, they had lots of things going on in their lives between school, ball games, and the farm. Bill and Janea did enjoy several trips with the kids to the mountains and other places.

Bill served on the Franklin School Board, the UCC church board, and on the Rural Fire Board in Franklin for many years. Bill served on these boards to the best of his ability with honesty and integrity. He loved being able to support his community and was happy to pass on the legacy to new members. Bill always valued his community and neighbors.

In his later years of life, many wonderful trips were enjoyed by special friends and family. Bill and Janea were able travel to Alaska two times. One trip with friends and another with lots of their family. He loved to go on long drives with wife, Janea, and his special friend, Gordon Mauch, around the farms to look at the crops and cattle in the pastures.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Emily Kahrs. Brothers, Douglass (Doug) and James (Jim) and wife, Susan Kahrs. Grandparents, Charles and Eite Kahrs, and Volney and Sara Douglass. Aunt, Ruth Douglass. Uncles, Willis and wife, Della Kahrs, and Harold and wife, Ann Kahrs. Parents-in-law, Howard and Marjorie Bergman. Sibling-in-laws, Jim and wife, Muriel Bergman, Ralph Sindt, Terry Steinkruger, Delmer Meyer, and Elliott Nielsen. Cousin, Shirley Kahrs. Nephew, Shannon Sindt. Nieces, Polly Sindt, Dee and husband, Brian Isaacson, April Schamp, and Aubrey Sindt.

He leaves to mourn his wife of sixty-six years, Janea (Bergman) Kahrs; his three children, Tim and wife Shannette Kahrs, Tamra Hukill, and Toby and wife Shelley Kahrs. Grandchildren Charles Fiene and fiancée Britney and children Billy, Destiny and Peyton; Garrett and Marisa Kahrs and great-granddaughter Malaki; Emily and Jordon King and boys Weston and Colton; Kersha and Jeremiah Ahart and great-grandbaby due in April; Latham and Dakota Foreman, and great-grandchildren Eitte and Byron; Brayton Kahrs and fiancé Draven Smith; Caleb Hukill; Abbigail Hukill; and Makaylin Kahrs. Sisters, Ruth Marie Steinkruger, Judy Nielsen, and Sara Beth and husband, Dennis Dorn. Sister-in-laws Jolene Sindt and Betty Kahrs. Honorary brothers Gordon Mauch and Bonnie Kahrs. As well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many special friends.

Visitation will be on Thursday, April 02, 2026 at Hutchins Funeral Home, Franklin, NE from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Family will be greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m., Friday, April 03, 2026 at Congregational United Church of Christ, Franklin, Nebraska with Pastor Jay Towell & Garrett Kahrs officiating the service. Committal services will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery, Franklin, Nebraska. Following the committal service cookies & cake will be served at the Congregational United Church of Christ, Franklin, NE. 

Memorials may be made to the Morrison Cancer Center, Franklin County Rural Fire District, or the UCC Church in care of Hutchins Funeral Home, PO Box 252, Franklin, Nebraska 68939.

Hutchins Funeral Home, Franklin, Nebraska assisted the Kahrs family with these arrangements.