Jimmy Baehler, Sr.

Jimmy Roy, the Baehler Boy, was born August 9th, 1944, in Goodland, Kansas, to Raymond Valgene Sr. and Irene Maie (Whitney) Baehler.  He was the fifth of eight children.  As a newborn infant he was sickly and frail.  With much care and love he grew to be a robust, strong man.  However, as a young adult, he was plagued with back problems and endured many back surgeries.

Jimmy attended school in Weskan, Kansas, graduating from high school in 1962.  After graduation, he spent nearly a year in Phillipsburg, Kansas, working in a gas station and helping a good friend overhaul Jim’s car.  In March 1963, he returned home to Wallace County and went to work for Zejda Construction.  Later that spring, he went to work for the Wallace County Co-op at the elevator in Weskan.  He also worked at the service station in Sharon Springs and drove the propane truck for the Co-op.

On August 4th, 1963, he married his high school sweetheart, Melba.  They were blessed with three daughters, Jean Michelle, Jamie Mae, Jody Maria, and a son, Jimmy Roy Jr.  They hosted four exchange students and opened their home to three nephews and one niece, helping them attend high school.

Soon after the untimely death of his brother, Sonny, Jimmy went to work with his dad on the family farm and ranch.  He ranched (he loved cattle and taking care of them) and farmed until he was forced to go on disability because of his back.  He and Melba remained living in the country until 1993, when they moved to Sharon Springs.

Jim was always fond of children, especially little babies.  No matter when or where Jim saw a baby, he had to stop and recognize it and hold it if he could.  He and Melba often took Danny, Johnny and Peggy on their dates with them because they both loved children.  He enjoyed working with children as a 4-H leader and a little league baseball coach.  He was a janitor at the Weskan School and drove a route bus and the activity bus.  He just loved being around kids.

Jim never seemed to let his pain get the best of him.  He wasn’t one to sit and do nothing.  He always kept busy with his recycling, raising Schnauzer puppies, helping his son on his ranch, attending to his garden and flowers, and taking care of his chickens and selling their eggs.

Jimmy was instrumental in getting the recycling started in the county and spent many hours grinding glass to be recycled.  He was very passionate about recycling and spent many hours picking up aluminum cans and plastic bottles out of ditches and around town.  He was honored with the Wallace County Foundation Main Street Award in 2012 for his recycling efforts.

Jimmy was a driving force in getting the arena built at the fairgrounds.  He served on the Wallace County Fair Board for 29 years, many of them as President.  Jimmy and Melba were the Grand Marshals of the parade during the 2015 Wallace County Fair.

Jimmy loved collecting turtles and sharing them with kids at the annual turtle race and then taking them back to the country to let them roam until the next year.

He was a member of the Wesleyan Church and served on the library board.  Jimmy was a member of Gideons International and helped distribute bibles to third graders in Wallace County.

A highlight in his life was being baptized by Paul McNall on February 14th, 2002, with his wife and children as witnesses.

Jimmy went to be with our Lord on December 16th, 2020, in Hays, Kansas, after fighting with the after effects of Covid 19.  He will be greatly missed by his wife of 57 years, Melba.  His children:  Jean (Dennis) Sharp, Sharon Springs; Jamie (Kyle) Siebert, Sharon Springs; Jody Baehler, Scott City; Jimmy Jr., Sharon Springs.  Grandchildren:  Tessa (Travis) Rohrberg, Andover; Tadd Taylor (Shayna), Leoti; Alex (Chelsie) Howard, Goodland; Tori (Mike) Pettigrew, Great Falls, Montana; Triston Swart, Oakley; Karenna Swart Scott City; Shelby and Jimmy III, Sharon Springs; Desiree’ Sharp, Denver, Colorado; Jordan (Kendra) Sharp, Colby; Dana (Chris) Robl, Ellinwood; Ashley (Judd) McCurdy, Colby; Darci (Mike) Wilson, Gillette, Wyoming; Great Grandchildren:  Ezra and Owen Rohrberg; Jaelynn and Olivia Taylor; Avery and Nova Godec; Landri, Lakyn, and Londyn Howard; Shade and Lev Sharp; Landon, Caleb, Conner, Ethan, Isaiah, Jacob, Elijah, and Israel Robl; Macy McCurdy; and Lincoln and Titus Wilson.

Sisters,  Ada Kyner and Alice Finley, Sharon Springs; Peggy Bagley, Osbourne;  brother,  Johnny, Sharon Springs; sister-in-law, Linda Baehler, Weskan; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Raymond Jr. (Sonny) and Richard; a sister, Bonnie Fuentez; a granddaughter, Jade Elaine Taylor; son-in-law, Dale Taylor; 4 brothers-in-law, Don Kyner, Ben Finley, Oscar Fuentez, and Gary Searle, Sr.; nieces, Ashlyn Wiley and Christina (Fuentez) Bourland; nephews, Christopher Kyner and Christopher Schmid.