DILLI, Kendel-Ra "Jarbo" - b. June 15, 1954 - d. October 12, 2023

[patyrn]

Kendel-Ra Dilli was born on June 15, 1954 in Wichita, Kansas.  His proud parents were Kenneth Dean and Del-Rae (Wallace) Dilli.  As a youngster, his Grandpa Earl Wallace gave him the nickname of "Jarbo", and most people knew him by that name.

Kendel-Ra spent his growing up years on the Dilli homestead west of Howard, Kansas, living in a stone farmhouse with his parents and sister, Debbie.  He always had animals, especially horses and dogs.  He attended Howard Grade School.  During his teenage years, he always had a job, one being hauling hay.  He loved to tell stories about the guys he worked with putting square hay bales in many unique places during the hot summer months.  He graduated from high school in 1973 with the last class of North Elk High School.

In August 1973, Kendel-Ra left Howard to explore life outside of Elk County.  He and a classmate, Jack Deniston, joined the United States Navy and did their basic training at San Diego, California. Kendel-Ra was then assigned to the USS Samuel Gumpers ship, working in the foundry department.  He served his country from 1973 to 1977.  His ship was involed with battles during the Vietnam War.  He received an honorable discharge.

On April 14, 1975, Kendel-Ra married Jarla Jarvi in San Diego, California.  To this union were born two sons, Jarbo Kenneth on March 17, 1976 in San Diego, California and Travis Dean on June 6, 1979 in Eureka, Kansas.  The couple divorced in 2015.

In 1977, Kendel-Ra moved his young family back to Elk County.  One of his jobs was working with his dad for Elk County, which he enjoyed.  His dad taught him the proper way to run a road grader.  Another job was laying pipe for rural water across Elk County.  His last job was working for Perkins Oil Company.  He used his skill as a welder, something he had seen done since he was ten years old.  While working in the oilfield, there was an accident which resulted in 2nd and 3rd degree burns over the upper half of his body.

In 1984, the family moved to Renton, Washington where his wife had family.  He attended Renton Vocational Technical Institute, graduating with honors in June 1987.  He was offered a job at Davis Wire in Kent,Washington before he graduated.  His job was to keep the machines that made different types of wire running.  He invented a device that would make the machines run more efficiently and received an award.  The company respected his knowledge and skills, and he traveled all over the world to their different facilities.  He was with the company over 25 years before taking early retirement due to health issues.

In 2017 through social medica, he found Jill McCollum, a girl he knew in high school.  In 2019, he moved back to Kansas, settling in Salina.  On August 28, 2020, Kendel-Ra and Jill went to the Saline County Courthouse and got married.  On their first anniversary, they had a ceremony in their yard in front of sixty friends and relatives.  Susan Galvan, a friend and pastor, officiated the ceremony.

Kendel-Ra wanted to be baptized and reached that goal at High Praise church in Salina, Kansas on August 28, 2022.  He left this earth and became an angel on October 12, 2023.  His life touched so many people.

Kendel-Ra is survived by his wife, Jill of the home; his sons, Jarbo (Shelly) Dilli of Renton, Washington and Travis Dilli and wife of Houston, Texas; his sister, Debbie Parks of Topeka, Kansas; his aunt, Peggy Knisley of Rose Hill, Kansas; cousins on both sides of the Wallace and Dilli families; his grandchildren, Skyler Andrew Reinhart, Stephanie Ann Reinhart, and Spencer Austin Reinhart, Emalee Goldie Dilli, and Taton Morgan Dilli; and great-grandchildren, Gauge Elbe Smith, Beau Cedar Smith, Abiigail Brant, and Mason Mack Reinhart.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Del-Rae Dilli, and his grandparents, Raymond Earl and Lucille (Scott) Wallace and Raymond and Ella (Bales) Dilli.

Graveside services with military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023 at the Cresco Cemetery north of Howard, Kansas, Highway 99 and Rock Road.  Visitation with the family will be held at Sweet & Spicy Restaurant in Howard from noon to 1:30 p.m.  His ashes will be buried with his loyal canine companion, Lola.  Memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association and may be mailed to or left with the funeral home.  Services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kasnas 67349.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)