Kenneth D. Sharp of Valentine, Nebraska passed away Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Cherry Hills Estates at the age of 82, surrounded by his family.  Services will be held Monday, May 30 at the United Methodist Church in Valentine, NE with Pastor Tom Lucas officiating.  Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine on Tuesday, May 31 with Pastor David Householter officiating.  His grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Kenneth Douglas Sharp was born in Valentine on January 12, 1929 to Rex W. Sharp Sr. and Martha Haley Sharp.  He was the fifth child born to a family of ten.  Kenneth had spent his childhood in the Norden, Sparks, Valentine, Millboro, and Beaver Creek area.  He went to work on the family farm and spent most of his life raising a family there.  Kenneth married Ines Soles Sharp on May 10, 1947.  To this union were born five children, Rosella, Kenny, Jerry, Lila, and Sherry.  They purchased the family farm in June of 1968.  Ines and Kenneth raised hogs and cattle working side by side and were married for 63 years.  Ines suffered a stroke in 1996 and they purchased a home in Valentine in 1997.  Kenneth was her main care giver for 14 years before she passed away on June 28, 2010.

As a young man Kenneth enjoyed playing baseball as part of the Haley grandson team.  He loved playing cards, horseshoe, and went fishing and hunting as time would allow.  He spent many memorable evenings "setting lines" while fishing for catfish on the Niobrara River.  Kenneth was able to be an electrician, plumber, construction worker, and tractor mechanic, and much more while he worked to make improvements on the family farm.  He never got tired of finding out how everything was going on the ranch. long after he moved to town.  He also enjoyed making music and was a self taught guitar player as well as several other instruments.  He bought a set of drums and an electric piano and formed his own family band to make music for others to enjoy.  They played for dances for several years and it brought him and Ines lots of good memories.  One of his biggest joys was being with his grandkids and great grandkids.  He loved them all and thoroughly enjoyed hearing about what they had been up to or playing a game of pitch with them when he got the chance.

Survivors include his children and their spouses: Rosella and Burnell Nieuwenhuis of Valentine, Kenny and Shelly Sharp of Millboro, Jerry and Jeannette Sharp of Valentine, Lila and Tim O'Keefe of Valentine, and Sherry and Stan Weatherly of North Platte, NE. Grandchildren: Mike and Staci Nieuwenhuis, Deanna and Eric Scott, Debra and Clint Hilker, Matt and Vanessa Sharp, Jeff and Sara Sharp, Jessica Sharp, Joshua Weatherly, Lucas Weatherly, and Cassie and Sean Condon.  Great grandchildren: Alexa and Braxton Green, Austin and Tye Hilker, Niah and Nate Nieuwenhuis, Brayden, Clayton, and Brianna Sharp, Dawson, Alayna, and Maddox Sharp, McKenzie, Brooklyn, and Sterling Sharp, Zoe and Haley O'Keefe, and Jackson Condon.  Also surviving iare two sisters, Gladys Haas of Valentine, and Martha Wergin of Oklahoma, three brothers, Wayne Sharp of Sparks, Ron Sharp of Kansas, and Bob Sharp of Colorado.  He was preceded in death by his wife Ines, parents, Rex and Martha Sharp, one sister, Lola Kaplan, and three brothers, Lyle, Jake and Rex.