Larry Keirns

Longtime Goodland, Kansas resident Larry Leroy Keirns, 80, passed away on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 in Colorado Springs, Colorado with his family by his side.

Larry was born on January 4, 1938 in Atchison, Kansas to Gilbert Leroy and Fern Lucille (Roberts) Keirns.  He was one of two children.  Larry grew up and attended school in Atchison County, graduating from Atchison County Community High School in Effingham, Kansas in 1956.  He then went on and attended school at Kansas State Teacher University in Emporia, Kansas, eventually completing his Master’s Degree in Administration.

On May 31, 1959, Larry married Etta Mae Rempel in Marion, Kansas at the Christian Church.  To this union, two children; Brad and Greg were born.  After moving to Goodland from Emporia in 1960, Larry was the Business Teacher at the Vo-Tech and Goodland High School.  Later he became the Director at Northwest Kansas Area Vocational Technical School and eventually became the President of Northwest Kansas Technical College.

Larry was a member of the First Christian Church in Goodland, Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks, and Sigma Phi Epsilon.  He was also on the Goodland Museum Board of Directors at the High Plains Museum, he was on the Goodland Economic Development Committee, and coached Little League Baseball.  He was also the owner of the Kwiki Car Wash in Goodland.  In his leisure time, Larry found great pleasure in his backyard and gardens, and took pride in his Grand Champion Onions.  He also loved to fish and relax at their cabin in Parks, Nebraska.  His pure enjoyment however, was spending time with his four grandchildren, and his two grand dogs Chip and Ollie.

Preceding him in death were his parents Gilbert and Fern Keirns.

He is survived by his wife Etta Mae Keirns of the home in Goodland, his sons Brad (Gina) Keirns of Derby, Kansas and Greg (Karma) Keirns of Colorado Springs, Colorado.  He is also survived by his four grandchildren; Bryant (Natalie) Keirns of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Aubrey Keirns of Derby, Kansas, Derek Keirns of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Darby Keirns of Boulder, Colorado; and one sister Karen (Colonel Leroy) Stutz of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.