Robert Allen Kimzey

Robert Allen Kimzey, 48, of Oak Grove, Mo., passed from this life suddenly on Friday, March 20, 2015, at his home. He was born March 24, 1966, in Nevada, Mo., the son of Robert Samuel and Judy Ann (Thomas) Kimzey, whom survive of Nevada. On Oct. 12, 1991, he was united in marriage to Dianne Lyn (Ashley) Kimzey and she survives of the home. Together the couple became the parents of two sons.

When Rob was five, he along with his family moved to Lenexa, Kan., then three years later all moved back to the family farm north of Nevada. Rob attended school in Nevada where he was actively involved in FFA and graduated with the Class of 1985. He also was a 4-H member and was a Jaycee member. Later he attended Tulsa Welding School completing his education there in 1989.

In the early 1990s he and Dianne made the Oak Grove area their home where he was residing at the time of his death. Throughout the years his employment included a brief time at the Nevada State Hospital following graduation, and then in 1993 he became the Wheel Repair Division Manager & Specialty Fabricator for Weld Wheel Industries in Kansas City until 1998. Shortly thereafter, he began employment as an Automotive and Equipment Technician for Jackson County Parks and Recreation until 2001, then in 2002 became a Maintenance Mechanic for the City of Independence Parks and Recreation Department where he was still employed.

When any spare time could be found, he enjoyed race cars, camping at Stockton Lake, boating and fishing with his sons, fabricating things and restoring old cars. Although he did not get a chance to, he had great plans to restore his father-in-law's 1955 Chevrolet pickup and a 1968 Camaro someday. Of special mention is the pride Rob felt when he fabricated a 12' wheel for Greg Weld of Weld Wheel Industries to place on top of the manufacturing plant in Kansas City. The wheel was fabricated to look just like a pro star wheel to set atop the plant. The wheel remained in its resting place on top of the building for several years until the plant was later sold after the owner's death.

Survivors in addition to his wife and parents include sons, Zachary Kimzey and Dalton Kimzey, both of the home; siblings, Randy Kimzey and wife, Kristie, of Bronaugh, Missy (Kimzey) Wehmeyer and husband, Devin, of Nevada, and Eric Bachtal and wife, Pat, of Snoqualmie, Wash.; mother-in-law, Irma Ashley, of Nevada; brothers-in-law Randall Ashley, of Nevada, and Matthew, also of Nevada; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives, many friends, and his beloved Bassett Hound, Bo. His father-in-law, Robert Ashley, passed away earlier this year.

A memorial service for Robert Allen Kimzey is scheduled at noon, Saturday, March 28, at Newton Burial Park, in Nevada. A visitation will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m., just prior to the service at Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada. An additional visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, March 26, at D.W. Newcomers Noland Road Chapel, 509 S. Noland Road, in Independence, Mo.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.