Rex Wise

Rex Wise passed away peacefully at Redbud Village in Plainville on February 4, 2024, at the age of 74.

He was born on July 24, 1949, to Norman and Ietta Mae (Hrabe) Wise in Hays, Kansas.

Rex grew up in Plainville. As his little brother, Fred, recalls his mom's story, Rex was in grade school when his mom was driving him to school one day. They had just turned off the highway towards the school when Rex yelled to stop, which she did. Rex bailed out of the car and ran toward a group of boys who were older and bigger than him. They were picking on/punching a boy that was half their size and weaker. Rex jumped in the middle of them and went after the biggest guy, the main antagonizer. It wasn’t long before the other boys decided they didn’t want what he had to offer and ran off, leaving the bully. As soon as there was an opportunity, the big guy tucked tail and ran. Rex walked the kid to school so no one would bother him. Mom said he watched over the younger boy after that, and the bullies left him alone. He was just that kind of guy, caring for others. Rex was the center of the Plainville High School football team and was the only junior named to the First Team of the Mid-Continent League all-star team as voted by his coaches of the league in 1965.

He enjoyed football, motorcycles, and his family. At the age of 16, he was injured in a pickup truck/ motorcycle accident, which injured his brain and affected his left side. While in and out of the Hadley Hospital, he was cared for by his parents in their Plainville home from 1966 until 1996. In the early 70s, volunteers from the community would come in to help Rex with patterning therapy. Always wanting to help Rex, in 1978, his dad and mom took him to the Department of Neurologic Surgery at St.Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, N.Y., to receive a Deep Brain Stimulator/Transmitter, which controlled his tremors. Rex lived in a Head Injury Group Home in Russell that Bob Dole had supported while in the U.S. Senate. Later, he was a client at DSNWK and then LINK, both in Hays. But, in 2000, he returned to Plainville, at Redbud Village. He loved it there, where the caring staff was extended family, so much that he stayed for 24 years.

Survivors include his siblings, Joan (Jeff) McIntyre of Florence, Ariz., Lonnie (Kathy) Wise of Russell, Vickie (Jack) Ashbaugh of Hill City, Pat (Alvin) Mills-Harbert of Warr Acres, Okla., and Fred (Val) Wise of Cheney; nieces and nephews John (Shauna) McIntyre, David McIntyre, Lanelle (Steve) Baily, Carey Wise, Stephanie Beran, Todd Ashbaugh, Brad (Tawny) Ashbaugh, Michelle (Terry) Dohrwardt, Kimberly Mills, Rachael (Chris)Williams, Andrew (Kelsea) Mills and numerous great nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Ietta Wise; grandparents, Fred and Amy Wise and James and Goldie Hrabe of Plainville; aunts, Wilma Reed, Daisy Stagner, Creta Hilgers, and Agnes Hrabe; uncles Alfred Reed, Shorty Stagner, Hallas Hrabe and Jake Hrabe; brother-in-law Mike Mills; and nephew Michael Andrew Mills of Oklahoma.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, February 12, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at First Christian Church in Plainville. Inurnment will follow at the Plainville Cemetery. There will be no visitation.

Memorials are suggested to Redbud Village and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, KS 67663.