Kenneth Groomer, age 59, died Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at his home in Ulysses, Kansas. He was born January 24, 1965, in Lamar, Colorado. The 6th child of William Ralph and Roberta Louise (Basye) Groomer, he grew up in Lamar.
Ken moved to Ulysses in 1988 and worked for Perry’s Tire & Supply until he began his career with Kroy Industries in 1989. He convinced Barbara (Wainman) Anderson to move to Ulysses and married her on May 22, 1989. He became a member of Grant County Fire Department in 1999 and joined Grant County EMS in 2014. Public service became his new love, but he also enjoyed golfing, fishing, and collecting HO trains, guns and knives. Other than EMS, his favorite job was the year he spent with the boys at Murphy Tractor in yard maintenance.
He is survived by his wife, Barb; two sons, Tyrel Anderson of Corsicana, Texas, and Zachery Groomer of Lincoln, Nebraska; as well as two daughters, Rachael Rainey and husband, Chanc, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Savannah (Annie) Nacke and husband, Austin, of Lincoln, Nebraska. He will be missed by his siblings, Debra Shankle of Lexington, Oklahoma, Mary Campbell of Ulysses, William Groomer of Lamar, Colorado, Lisa Theye and husband, Dale, of Garden City, Kansas, and Wendi Hampton and husband, Nick, of Ulysses; four grandchildren; and many friends and family members.
Ken is preceded in death by his parents, and brother, David Shankle, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A Service of Remembrance will be held on his favorite holiday, July 4, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Grant County EMS in Ulysses. Memorial contributions may be given to the Grant County EMS in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.