Joseph C. Kent

Joe Kent, 94, of Mountain Home, died on July 3, 2011.

Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church on Wednesday, July 6, at noon. The burial will be held at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.

Joe was born June 22, 1917, in Troy, Kan., to George and Cecelia Kent. After his mother died in the flu epidemic in1918, Joe went to live with his aunt in Nebraska. At age 6, Joe moved to his father's ranch in Merriman.

He attended St. Mary's Boarding School in Rushville. He graduated from St. Patrick's Boarding School in Sidney in 1935. He attended Creighton University in Omaha for one year, and then joined his father's road construction business.

In 1936, Joe moved to Ainsworth with his father.

That move changed his life. He met and fell in love with Pauline Langer. They were married on June 10, 1940, in Long Pine, Neb. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Mountain Home for Joe's first job with the Union Pacific Railroad. His first assignment was at Reverse, about 9 miles from Mountain Home. He used a bicycle to get to and from work each day.

In his early years with the railroad they moved frequently, living throughout southwest Idaho with four years in Ontario, Ore. The family moved to Boise in 1949 and remained there until their move to Mountain Home in 1957, where Joe was the station agent. He retired in 1977.

Joe was a devoted family man, an honest and responsible worker, and an excellent example of a life lived with integrity. He enjoyed all sports and supported his children in any way possible.

He was an active member of the Mountain Home community and his church. Joe was chairman of the USO Committee that started the first program in Mountain Home for the military, which eventually developed into Air Force Appreciation Days. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus and was the Grand Knight in 1958-59. During this time, the Knights started the first Basque Dance in Mountain Home. He worked on the annual St. Patrick's Day dinner for 25 years. He also served on many church committees.

Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Pauline, his daughters and their husbands, Marilyn and Bill Byrne and Nancy and Gary Campbell, his son- and daughter-in-law, Steve and Evelyn Kent, and son, Tim Kent. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Bill and Greg Byrne, Jonathan Campbell, Lacy, Michelle, Cristina, Sasha and Stevie Kent, Adam and Matt Kent, as well as four great-grandchildren.

Joe was preceded in death by his son, Dick, who died in 1958.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Joe and Pauline Kent Scholarship Fund, ISU Foundation, 921 S. 8th Ave. Stop 8050, Pocatello, ID 83209.

Rest in peace, dear man. Yours was indeed a life worth living.