Reverend Emanuel Wilbur "E.W." Kehr, age 96, formally of Pueblo, CO, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 10, 2020.

He was born on February 17, 1923, in Western Kansas to the late John & Katherine (Mohr) Kehr.

E.W. was raised on a "hand me down" farm in Kansas with his three sisters. On the farm he learned his strong work ethic and grew to have a close, strong bond with his family. Both traits he passed along to his family. He was a teenager during the Dust Bowl and remembered vividly no crops during the time, but was still able to care for the chickens and cows. He recalled the entire family packing into the 1928 Chevy Pickup to head to church in Garden City.

E.W. married Doris Bond in 1951 in Garden City, Kansas. Together they shared 69 years of marriage and raised three children together.

He graduated from Bethany Nazarene College in 1955. After ordination in the Church of the Nazarene, he served as pastor in Hutchinson, Salina, Derby, Sublette, KS, and Poplar Bluff and Kirksville, MO, and Taylorville, IL before retiring in Elkhart, KS. E.W. received the Distinguished Service Award for his 33 years in Nazarene Missions. He touched many lives during his time as a pastor and led a countless number of people to Christ. After retirement, E.W. and Doris moved to Pueblo, CO.

E.W. enjoyed to hunt and trap skunks as a younger man, where he was paid $2 per pelt. Later he enjoyed to fish and had a passion for wood working. He made toys, board games, benches and many gifts for friends and family.

Survivors include his wife, Doris Kehr; children, Gary (Renee) Kehr and LeAnn (Steve) Yantis; grandchildren, Ryan (Sarah) Kehr, Brent (Meghan) Kehr, Jessica (Jason) Mitchell, Matthew (Megan) Yantis and Nathan Yantis, BJ (Amanda) Lorenzen, Mantha (Joe) Towns; great-grandchildren, Kylee Cando, Crosby & Mara Kehr Edward, Shaye, Boden and Novella Mitchell, Mackenzie, Rachel and Mia Lorenzen, Brooklyn Towns and Amara and Haley; and daughter-in-law, Carolyn Kehr.

He is preceded in death by his son, James R. Kehr.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 18 at 1:00pm at Penwell-Gabel Olathe Chapel, 14275 S. Black Bob, Olathe, KS. Burial will follow at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Church of the Nazarene Foundation, 17001 Prairie Star Pkwy Suite 200, Lenexa, KS 66220.