Rex Van Allen Kellogg, son of Alvin Ray & Bessie (Van Allen) Kellogg, was born September 29, 1922 west of Bogue, Kansas in Graham County and passed away July 20, 2013 at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, Kansas at the age of 90.

Rex attended elementary school and high school in Bogue, graduating with the class of 1941.

He was drafted into military service in January, 1943, where he served his country as a tail gunner in the Army Air Corp flying on a B-17 in the 398th Bomb Group based in England. His plane was shot down near Erfurt, Germany, and he was held captive by the Germans until the end of WWII when he was liberated. Rex was honorably discharged October 23, 1945.

After returning to the United States, on a bus ride home from visiting relatives, he met his future bride, Martha Zollmann. Rex & Martha were married on August 4, 1946 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Stuttgart, Kansas. God blessed them with the birth of three children: Karolyn, Kenneth and Robert.

Rex worked on the family farm for his father and uncles as well as at Quanz Elevator in Glade, Kansas after his discharge from the Army. He then attended Grand Island Business College, graduating with a degree in Accounting in 1948. He and Martha moved back to Kansas and he began working at the Hainke Foundry in Kensington. From 1949 – 1977 Rex worked for Vogel Implement John Deere Agency in Phillipsburg and then for Bergmeier Equipment in Phillipsburg until his retirement in 1984.

Some of his volunteer "jobs" have included serving as treasurer for the Golden Years Senior Center in Phillipsburg, treasurer for the AAL Branch 2660, and treasurer at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Stuttgart.

Rex loved to read and was a devoted Christian, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His family knew they could always count on his support, and he would travel many miles to attend their events, programs and other activities. He enjoyed sports and closely followed teams at Phillipsburg High School and Kansas State University.

He was a kind, loving man who earned the respect of those who knew him. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents; sister, LaVerne Southard; and brothers, Wilton and Norwood.

Survivors include his wife, Martha, of the home; daughter, Karolyn Kellogg Howey of Hutchinson, KS; sons, Kenneth (Sharon) of McPherson, KS and Robert (Mary) of Valley Center, KS; seven grandchildren: Chris Kellogg, Alisha Streit (Jonathan), Steven Scott Howey, Jenny Guhr (Steve), Krista Bernardo (Michael), Janna Callahan (Russell), and Shannon Howey Rowland (Jason); and eight great-grandchildren: Ella and Kynlea Guhr, Noah and Ava Streit, Harley Brooks, Joshua and Aaron Rowland, and Justin Truong (Guhr).

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 26, 2013 in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stuttgart, KS with Pastor Shelly Klingensmith officiating. Burial will follow in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard.

Rex will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday evening for visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church or Phillips County 4-H.