Kent Dove

Richard Kent Dove, beloved husband, brother, uncle, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully at home on Sunday morning, December 29, 2024, at the age of 79. He succumbed to complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma while under hospice care. 

Kent was born April 26, 1945, at Axtell Christian Hospital in Newton, Kansas, to Richard “Dick” Dove and Sarah “Joan” (Kealiher) Dove. He grew up in Newton with his older sister Karen, and loved going on drives with the family and guessing their destination. According to sister Karen, Kent got it right nine out of ten times.

After graduating from Newton High School in 1963, Kent went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from WSU, then subsequently worked for Harvey County as a social worker. In 1967, Kent married Newton native Karen Werner.

A short time after this marriage, Kent enlisted in the United States Air Force. Oldest son Chad was born at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas, in January 1970. A short time later the family relocated to Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan, where son Todd was born on August 8, 1971.

After serving four years in the Air Force, Kent and the family returned to Newton where he once again worked for Harvey County in the SRS office and earned a master’s degree in social work. For many years, Kent also worked evenings and weekends to maintain and repair countless rentals owned by his father-in-law, Russell Werner.

Kent eventually left the Harvey County SRS office to work as the Director of Group Homes for United Methodist Youthville. While at Youthville, Kent met three coworkers who ended up becoming lifelong friends: Lanny Lind, Mike Farrell, and the late Terry Moore. This group of guys were like brothers to Kent. From ski trips to the Indy 500 to their recent weekly trips to Starbucks, whatever they did, fun was had by all.

In 1984, Kent and Karen divorced. Kent later began dating Joquetta Kepple and the two were married in Salina, Kansas, on June 22, 1985. For several years, Kent and Jo lived on Lakeshore Drive in Newton and began a search for just the right place in the country. When Kent and Jo first visited the 80 acres south of Newton near the county line, they knew immediately it was the perfect place to build their future legacy. 

Kent served as a member of numerous organizations and boards of directors, including the Harvey County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force and many others. After leaving Youthville, Kent worked as the Director for Harvey County United Way, at ResCare of Newton, Lutheran Social Services in Wichita, Harry Hines Hospice, and Bluestem Communities in North Newton. Kent worked as a consultant for estate planning before retiring in December 2020.

Kent enjoyed being outside and improving the property he and Jo shared. With years of experience from working with Russ, Kent enjoyed ongoing projects such as installing landscaping, building boardwalks, creating a fishing dock, and plowing garden beds. He was especially fond of any project that involved his tractor. 

From those early mystery rides with his family, Kent developed a love for travelling. He and Jo would frequently take the boys to Kansas City for long weekends, finding new places to explore each time. Kent and Jo travelled to Colorado to visit a beloved aunt and her life-long friend, and often took Dick and Joan on those trips. 

One of Kent’s favorite destinations was the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. This trip became an annual pilgrimage and Kent’s preference for celebrating the Fourth of July. Family, including Jo’s sister, Elizabeth Kepple, and her boys, son Todd and his family, were most often along for the journey.

Family was a constant priority for Kent. He loved to fill the barn with grandkids and great grandkids for any occasion. He made it a point to show up to family birthdays, sporting events, graduations, and celebrations of any kind. While Kent didn’t often go fishing, he relished the times his sons and their families made memories at the water’s edge, and always made sure there were extra fishing poles and tackle on hand. 

Kent is survived by wife Joquetta (Kepple) Dove; sister Karen (Dove) Ash of Hutchinson, Kansas; son Chad Dove and daughter-in-law Laurie (Patterson) Dove of Valley Center, Kansas; son Todd Dove and daughter-in-law Renea (Simon) Dove of Elbing, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Mariah Dove of Newton, Kansas; Ashley Oleson (Sam) of Wichita, Kansas; Addison Dove of Wichita, Kansas; Quinn Avendaño (Isaiah) of Valley Center, Kansas; Rowan Dove of Valley Center, Kansas; Colt Dove of Wichita, Kansas; and Rayne Dove of Elbing, Kansas; four great grandchildren, River and Beckham Avendaño, and Ezri and Elliotte Dove.

Kent is survived by his mother-in-law, three sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews, all of whom he cared for greatly.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard “Dick” Dove, mother Sarah “Joan” Dove, and brother-in-law Gil Ash.

A visitation will be held from 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Petersen’s Funeral Home in Newton. A service will take place at 10:30 a.m. January 6, 2025, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 2001 Windsor Drive in Newton.

Memorials may be made to Harvey County United Way or St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church of Newton.