Brian K. Rice, Msgt (Ret.)

Brian Kent was born to Donna and Kenneth Rice of Burlington, IA in January 1961. He grew up building treehouses, skating on frozen ponds & waterskiing the Mississippi River with his five siblings, many cousins, and friends. After graduating Union High School in 1979 he joined the Air Force and began a 21-year career that took him to duty stations in Arizona, Colorado, Belgium, New Mexico, and Nebraska. Brian served 14 years in security forces before cross-training into personnel working in both the 55th Operations Support Squadron & 55th Med Group. After his retirement, Brian joined Crew Training International, and for 21 years served through many contracts with the Air Force supporting over 8,000 students, acting as a human resources hub, administrative assistant, and handling contract compliance and security for the contract.



While stationed in Arizona, Brian met the love of his life on a blind date. He knew right away that he wanted to marry Kathy & he told her as much that night! They married 2 months later and were happily married for almost 41 years. Together, they raised two beautiful daughters, Kimberly & Kassie, gained a son, Thor, and welcomed five incredible grandchildren. Brian was born to be a grandpa, and it showed in the faces of his grandkids when he walked into a room. Wherever the grandkids were having fun, their Papa was there to join right in. He was ever-present in their lives, never missing a concert, football game, play, pinewood derby, birthday, or holiday.



Brian’s passion for spending time in nature with his family was lifelong. Many sunny days found him driving up mountain “roads” with a picnic, his wife, 2 little girls, a dog, and sometimes his parents, in search of an adventure…and we often found one. Early summer snowball fights, close encounters with mama bear and her cubs, and a road that stopped abruptly in the middle of a picturesque meadow. Even after moving to the flattest state in the country, Brian still found adventures canoeing the Niobrara with his wife and friends, cycling across Iowa in RAGBRAI and exploring new and interesting disc golf courses with Kathy.



Brian was a proud member of the NRA and a lifelong firearm enthusiast. He enjoyed playing cards, watching westerns, mowing the lawn, and visiting the zoo with his grandkids. Brian was a devoted son who spoke to his mother every weekend and cherished the many happy memories he made with her in the mountains they both loved so much.



He leaves behind a tremendous legacy of love.



He is remembered with love by adored wife, Kathy; daughters, Kimberly (Thor), Kassie; grandchildren, Olivia, Jacob, Nolan, Katie, Lucas; mother, Donna; siblings, Charlotte, Charlene, Kevin, Kendal, Curtis; many nieces and nephews and friends. Welcomed into Heaven by father, Kenneth; nephew, Jamie.



Attachments area



Celebration of Brian’s Life Sunday, Sept 5, 4:30 PM Bellevue Berry Farm, Papillion NE.