Rodney Doebele

Silver Lake-Rodney "Tex" Doebele, 73, passed away Friday, January 11, 2019 at the Midland Hospice House In Topeka. Tex was born on June 13, 1945, in Marysville to Urban & Marie Doebele. He graduated from Hanover High School in 1963. He served his Country in the U.S. Navy from 1965 until he was honorably discharged in 1968 as Petty Officer 2nd Class. Tex worked for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company for 35 ½ years, retiring on March 1, 2004. He and his wife Connie, owned and operated "Tex's Drive In" in Silver Lake for 19 years, from 1971-1990. Tex was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and served on the parish council from 1985-1987 as president. He was a charter member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 10755, serving as Grand Knight from 1999-2001, becoming a 4th Degree Knight in March of 2004. Tex was a volunteer with Silver Lake Fire Department for 8 years, and was a member of American Legion Post No. 160. He had served on the Silver Lake Planning Commission since 1984. He and Connie ushered for the K-State football games for 10 years. He had battled bladder cancer since January 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Diane Behrends. He married Connie Crome on August 2, 1969 at St. John's Catholic Church in Hanover. She survives of the home. Other survivors include his two children, Crystal (Jeff) Rippe, Silver Lake and Craig Doebele, Stephenville, TX; four grandsons, Dallas Rippe, LaGrande, OR, Tucker Rippe, Silver Lake, Cole and Ryan Doebele and granddaughter, McKenzie Doebele Arvada, CO; three brothers, Jerry (Nancy), Colorado Springs, CO, Wayne (Sandi) and Chuck (Debbie) all of Silver Lake; a sister, Connie Doebele, West Lafayette, IN; a brother-in-law, Gary Behrends, Diller, NE. Tex loved hunting, sport shooting; pitching horseshoes, working in his yard and garden, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren and attending any activity his grandchildren were involved in. He was a fan of K-State, Chiefs and the Royals. He was well known for his "Gift for gab" and joking with his many friends. (His granddaughter would always say he was a walker and a talker!) Mass of Christian will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville. Interment will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery at Hanover at 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 16, 2019. A rosary will be recited at 5:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at the church followed by a family visitation until 7:30 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church Building Fund, Cotton O'Neil Cancer Center or Midland Hospice and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.