Douglass Eugene Kahrs

Douglass Eugene Kahrs was born March 13, 1936, on the family farm south of Bloomington to Kenneth and Emily (Douglass) Kahrs.

He attended Bloomington Public Schools, graduating in 1953. He then attended The University of Nebraska at Lincoln for one semester before returning home to farm with his dad.

He was the Substitute Postal Clerk in the Bloomington Post office in 1954 & 1955.

Douglass married Betty Lou Kennedy on April 8, 1956, to this union 4 children were born: Vicki, Bruce, Don & Dennis.

He was a farmer and rancher, but his specialty was construction. There were many jobs that he was the “foreman” on and in his later years the “supervisor”.

He served on the Naponee School Board, The Bostwick Irrigation Board, Extension Board, The Golden Age Village Board and finally, the Franklin City Council.

Doug was baptized on April 18, 1943, at the Franklin Congregational Church. He was a member of the Bloomington Methodist Church and the Franklin Methodist Church. Doug was also a board member at the Franklin Methodist Church for many years.

From 1958 to 1964 Doug served in the Kansas National Guard. While stationed at Fort Ord in California he was a clerk typist and then a Section Chief in the169th Ordnance Company based out of Smith Center, Kansas.

In his retirement years he enjoyed helping his sons and grandsons, sharing his many stories about his years of adventures and having coffee at Bloomington. When all the kids and grandkids were gathered for the holidays, Doug would always look at Betty and say “Look what we started”. Doug enjoyed watching the grandkids and great grandkids “carpet farm” and claimed that they were all so intelligent because he gave all of his up so they could have it.

Whether Doug was boating at the lake, checking his crops and cows, teaching his grandkids new things like reading a rain gauge, taking his grandkids to the cattle auction, loading out cattle, making sure the fences were straight or was on one of the many trips with his good friends he lived life to the fullest and had the motto of “Life’s a journey, enjoy the ride.” God blessed Doug with an amazing journey, and he certainly enjoyed the ride!!

His parents; parents-in-law, Harry & Pearl Kennedy; brother, James Kahrs; brother and sister-in-law, Don & Skeet Kennedy; brothers-in-law, Delmer Meyer, Terry Steinkruger, Elliot Nielsen; niece, Dee Isaacson; sister-in-law, Susan Kahrs; great-granddaughter, Nevaeh Lucht and great-grandson, Jacob Bartels preceded him in death.

He leaves to mourn his death; his wife of almost 70 years, Betty Lou; his children, Vicki (JR) Splattstoesser, Bruce (Janet), Don (Lori) and Dennis; Grandchildren, Gina (Brian) Welsh, Grady Splattstoesser, Brent (Tessa) Kahrs, Jill (Mike) Bartels, Joan (Alex) Uhrmacher, Adam (Amanda) Kahrs, Kelly (Ryan) Lammers, Jeralynn (Dustin) Lucht, Erica (Tony) Smith, Dylan (Sidney) Kahrs and Joseph (Taylin) Kahrs and great-grandchildren, Madalynn, Yancy & William Welsh, Reagan, Hayden, Kenneth, Weston & Wyatt Kahrs, Ryan, Logan, Ella & Macy Bartels, Avery & Kade Uhrmacher, Emma, Stetson, Beau & Anita Kahrs, Sage & Evan Lammers, Max Lucht, DJ & Ashton Smith and Baby Kahrs due in May; Brother, Bill (Janea) Kahrs; sisters, Ruth Marie Steinkruger, Judy Nielsen and Sara Beth (Denny) Dorn; Several nieces and nephews and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials go to AseraCare, Franklin EMTs and Franklin Methodist Church.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Greenwood Cemetery in Franklin, Nebraska with Rev. Rick Meyer officiating.

A visitation with family present will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hutchins Funeral Home in Franklin, Nebraska 

There will be refreshments of cookies and coffee served at the Grace Lutheran Church in Franklin following the graveside for family and friends for continued fellowship and sharing memories of Douglass.

Military honors will be conducted at the graveside. For online condolences please visit, www.hutchinsfh.com