Raleigh K. "Rusty" Macklin

Raleigh K. "Rusty" Macklin, age 79, of Garnett, Kansas passed away on November 16, 2022 at his home.

Rusty was born on May 13, 1943 in Greeley, KS. He was the second of two sons born to Ralph Macklin and Grace (Fox) Macklin. Rusty grew up on a farm east of Greeley, graduating from Greeley High School with the class of 1961. Rusty's love of cars, specifically Ford vehicles, began at a young age. He remarked that he had seven different cars by the time he graduated from high school. Following high school Rusty worked at various jobs before going to work at HUMCO in Garnett as a welder/fabricator. On June 15, 1968 he was united in marriage to Karen Sue Marmon in Garnett. Their union was blessed with four children, Amy, Kim, Flint and Jill. Rusty and Karen began their life together on a dairy farm near Greeley, where he also helped his dad on his farm. They later moved to Colony, Kansas where Rusty farmed, before they eventually moved to their home on the Bush City road. Karen passed away on May 28, 1995. In 2002 Rusty moved from their property on the Bush City road to the house he built on Highway 169 south of Garnett. Just like the home on Bush City road, the new house had space to accommodate all of Rusty's ongoing projects. Rusty's talents were most often expressed in steel, but he could make, fix, create or build almost anything. After retiring in 2008 after 31 years of combined service for HUMCO and Taylor Forge he took on his own business, Rusty's Welding and Machine. His work was sought after for the one off or difficult items. Everything Rusty turned out had that "Rusty touch". In his free time, Rusty enjoyed fishing, hunting, and trapping, but vehicles and things related to building and fixing usually made their way to top priority. Over the years Rusty enjoyed restoring several vehicles, his mud truck, 1956 Ford, 1963 ½ Ford Fairlane, and 1973 Mach 1 were some of his favorites. The family enjoyed countless hours at car shows and mud runs. Rusty embraced the idea that cars were made to be driven and he loved to drag race if given the opportunity. He enjoyed raising tomatoes and sharing them with family and friends. Rusty enjoyed several years of marriage to Lois Roberts until her passing on November 20, 2020.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Grace Macklin; wife, Karen; wife, Lois; son, Flint on September 9, 2017.

Rusty is survived by his three daughters, Amy Rowlands of Garnett; Kim Wittman and husband, Rod of Garnett, and Jill Foltz and husband, Pete of Waverly, Kansas; nine grandchildren; five great grandchildren; one brother, Jay Macklin and wife, Linda of Garnett; and Lois' son, Brian Colburn; and numerous additional family and friends.

Funeral services for Rusty will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service - Garnett. Burial will follow in the Garnett Cemetery. Rusty's family will greet friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service - Garnett. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .