Kody Dean Kautz, age 20, of Whiting, KS died Thursday, June 28, 2007 at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City from a choking incident. He was born September 8, 1986 in Atchison, KS, the son of Ron and Connie Behrnes Kautz. He had lived in the Whiting community all of his life attending Horton schools and graduating from Jackson Heights High School in 2005. Kody was a mechanic and tire specialist and for the past year had been physically disabled from an automobile accident. He was a member of The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Horton. Survivors include his parents, Ron and Connie Kautz of Whiting; his sisters, Heather Wood and her companion, Mathew Conger of Holton and Heidi Byrne and her husband, Chris of Silver Lake; his brothers, Kolt Kautz and his companion, Kristina Bell of Whiting and Ross "Lib" McAfee of Horton; his grandparents, Harvey and Eudene Behrnes of Horton; a niece, Atalie Conger and 6 nephews, Keegan Wood, Gaje Byrne, Dillon Byrne, Dalton Byrne and Bryson Conger. Services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, July 2, 2007 at the Whiting Community Building. Family will greet friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will be in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Whiting. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Kody Kautz Memorial Fund c/o Mercer Funeral Home, Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.
Kody was one of a kind. He lived a full life in his short 20 years. One full of love, laughter, fun and tears. A life for a love of many things. Kody loved his motorcycle and his 1969 Dodge Dart. He took every opportunity he had to stop and smoke the tires. A couple of his pass times were hunting and fishing. He had an eagle eye for finding deer. One could be hidden in the timber and he could still spot them driving down the road. And when it came to deer season there wasn't any deer safe. The first season he was old enough to carry a gun and hunt he got a 13 point buck. It was out of range and on the run but Kody pulled off one shot and it dropped in it's spot. And everything he hunted was up against the same thing. If he shot - it dropped. Kody also loved to read and he absorbed the information like a sponge and could give statistics in any of his interests that one might want to know.
Kody had a unique sense of humor that made being with him endless fun. There was never a time he couldn't make you laugh due to his unlimited jokes and the songs he could sing. He could make up words to a song and make your stomach hurt from laughter.
Kody had sparkling eyes that could melt someone in a heartbeat. He had a body of steel and the strength of an ox. But his heart was his most beautiful asset. Kody loved deep! His love for his family and friends was never ending and always forgiving. He loved his nephews and niece. He played and wrestled with them and gave them motorcycle and 4 wheeler rides but most of all he just loved them. His 11 month old nephew, Gaje, is so much like Kody that he called him "Mini Me", and he just couldn't keep his hands off of him. And just as important, they all loved him too.
He was a wonderful son, so full of life and love. He never left without saying "I love you". He never out grew giving or receiving hugs and kisses, and most of all he never outgrew his loving and loyal ways for his family and friends. He will truly be missed by many.
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