Fredrick A. Krebs

Fredrick A. (Fred) Krebs, passed from this life on December 28, 2012.

He joins his wife Barbara and his father Albert D. Krebs who preceded him in death. Fred leaves a daughter, Kandi; granddaughter Aaryn Krebs; mother Virginia; brothers Jim and Debbie, Jeff, and Bill and Cindy; nieces, Allison, Kaitlyn, Emily, Meg, and Betsy; Mike and Marybeth Blake, Steve and Helen Blake; and numerous cousins and distant relatives.

He was born on August 31, 1946, in Roeland Park, Kansas. He attended Merriam Elementary, Hocker Grove Middle School, and Shawnee Mission North, where he was a member of the Quill & Scroll Society, National Honor Society, Debate and Chess Clubs. He was finalist for a Rhodes Scholar and a member of the OWL Society while at the University of Kansas. Fred graduated from Kansas University, and then received a M.A. from UMKC. Fred was one of the first professors to join the staff at JCCC where he continued to teach humanities and social studies until his death. He embellished his teaching with portrayals of historical characters in costume including Galileo, Christopher Columbus, his most cherished Ben Franklin, William Allen White, Huey Long and many other characters.

Fred has been a lifeguard, Red Cross instructor, swimming coach, and Boy Scout Leader. Fred was an Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow, and received the Silver Beaver Award from the Mic O Say Council. He was recognized for his troop receiving 20 Eagle Scout awards. As history professor at Johnson County Community College, he was given Distinguished Status in 1988. He started the Honors Program at the College. He was on the sponsoring committee for the Dead Seas Scrolls Exhibit in Kansas City. He has received the Kansas Humanities Council Award for connecting people and ideas for over 25 years. His work with the Johnson County Christmas Bureau has included hundreds of hours of volunteer work. He is an Institutional Sponsor of Cub Scout Pack 3269 in Overland Park. Fred is a member of the Kansas Historical Society. He is also been an advisor to the Johnson County Museum. He is a member of the JCCC Speakers Bureau and has 20 speaking engagements a year.

Fred has received many recognitions and awards at the state and national levels for his work with the Kansas and Nebraska Humanities Councils and Chautauqua programs in over 23 states. Fred was a prolific public speaker on a wide range of subjects including Women in American History, African-American History, foreign policy, arts, literature, and film studies. His awards include the 1997 Kansas Humanities Award for connecting people and ideas in Kansas, The Governor's Humanist Award, The Liberty Bell Award from the Johnson County Bar Association, in 2001 the Sons of The American Revolution named him Patriot of the Year. Ingram's Magazine named Fred an Icon of Education in 2012. He was a Mason and Rotarian. Fred's passion in life was community service; from breathing life into his historical characters to his involvement in Rotary. Fred found Rotary as a result of a Rotary Exchange Program with India where Fred was hooked on the gift of Rotary. He was a member of the Shawnee Mission Rotary Club and became its President in 1992-93. From there Fred served Rotary District 5710 as Chair of many committees, Governor in 1996-97 and District Trainer and Historian. Fred was a founding member of the Paul Harris Society, Charter Member of the District Alumni Association. He has received every honor Rotary bestows on Rotarians including the Service Above Self, its highest award. Fred was a Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, 3:00 p.m., January 5, 2013, at the Johnson County Community College, Carlsen Center in the Polsky Theater.

Contributions can be made to:

Rotary Foundation

14280 Collections Center Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60693

or

Johnson County Community College Foundation

207 Carlsen Center

12345 College Boulevard

Overland Park, Kansas 66210-1299

or

Johnson County Library Foundation

P. O. Box 2933

Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66203-1333