Russell Leroy Blubaugh, age 88, a resident of Olathe, Kansas, passed away early Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at the Olathe Hospice House in Olathe. He was born December 20, 1935, in Bentley, Kansas, the sixth child of Oscar H. Blubaugh and Minnie A. Krauss Blubaugh’s ten children. In 1948, the Blubaugh family moved from Bently to a farm in Anderson County, Kansas northeast of Westphalia. Russ attended MontIda Rural Grade School and went on to graduate from the Westphalia High School. He married Evelyn June Johns on June 8, 1961. Russ, along with his brother, Roger, eventually took over the operation of the Blubaugh Farm. They grew row crops, milked and raised beef cattle. They took pride in their land and received an Anderson County Soil Conservation award. While in Garnett, Russ and Evelyn were member of the First Christian Church where Russ served as a Deacon. In 1985, Russ and Evelyn left the farm and moved to Olathe, Kansas where Russ began working as a plumber for Gladstone Plumbing where he worked with his longtime friends Raymond and Milton Johnston. He worked in the profession until themid-1990’s. Russ was a natural when it came to fixing things. There fore, when he retired
from plumbing, he started a part-time job with Lowe’s in Olathe. He enjoyed staying busy and helping the many customers. Russ enjoyed woodworking and helping Evelyn keep up their yard and flowerbeds, but above all he enjoyed spending time with his four granddaughters. Many hours were spent riding bikes, swimming, and going out for ice cream. Russ will be remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
Survivors include two daughters, DianeHastert(Duane) of Garnett, Kansas and Deann Mitchell (Greg) of Olathe, Kansas; four granddaughters, Meagan Ingold (Josh), Lauryn Linzay (Jesse), Shelby Ellis (Tim) and Sydney Gray (Tristan) and two great-grandsons, Carter and Kaysen Ingold with another Ellis grandson on the way. Also surviving are four brothers, Roger Blubaugh (Judy) of Olathe, Kansas, Reuben Blubaugh (Barbara) of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, David Blubaugh (Sheila) of Ft. Scott, Kansas and Steve Blubaugh also of Excelsior Springs and a sister, Norma Jean Nilges of Garnett. Russ was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, on September 3, 2022; two infant twin great-granddaughters, Marcie and Jaycie Ellis as well as his parents, three
brothers, Ralph, Robert and Raymond Blubaugh and a sister, Lois Nilges.
Pastor Chris Goetz will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 2nd at the First Christian Church in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow in the MontIda Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from10:00 A.M. until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to Friends of the Garnett Library and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel,
201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook atcheneywitt.com.
