IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Chris Seibel
A graveside memorial for Hillsboro native Christopher Lane Seibel, 44, who died March 19, 2024, will be 11 a.m. April 27 at Ebenfeld Cemetery, rural Hillsboro.
He was born Oct. 12, 1979, at Salem Hospital. At age 3, he and his family moved to Fresno, California, while his dad attended seminary for three years.
They then moved to Littleton, Colorado, where Chris completed grade school and attended 1½ years at Chatfield High School before returning to Hillsboro, where he graduated from Hillsboro High.
He attended Tabor College for two years and completed a mechanical engineering degree, graduating from Kansas State University in 2003.
He always was a positive person, growing up excelling in academics. However, he usually was in the background, not seeking the limelight.
Chris liked playing soccer, snow skiing, and golf. He loved to spend time in the mountains and hoped to return someday to retire.
While attending Belleview Acres Church in Littleton, Chris made a profession of faith and was baptized by his father, who served as pastor.
He enjoyed being involved with friends in his youth group. Chris always had a part-time job while attending college. One of them was working at Vogt’s IGA in Hillsboro.
Later, while completing his degree at K-State, he did several internships at Cessna Aircraft in Wichita. They led to a successful 15-year career at Garmin International Inc. in Olathe as a mechanical engineer in its aeronautical division.
He developed friendships at work and was regarded by his supervisors as a valued employee. A career highlight was accompanying a team to consult with clients in Paris.
In recent years, Chris battled medical issues, forcing him to resign from Garmin.
He lived a very frugal and simple life. He always was concerned about eating healthy and meticulously took care of his things, even driving his 2001 Mazda pickup for more than 20 years.
He had a subtle sense of humor. It came out especially as he played and interacted with his nieces and nephews.
Chris loved his family, joining them on summer vacations. He forever will be missed.
He is survived by his parents, Clint and Ev Seibel; his sister, Dionne, and her husband, Josh Guddat; his nieces, Erica and Ashley; nephew Sam and niece Allison Guddat; sister Jodi and her husband, Jeremy Glanzer; nieces Avery and Campbell, nephew Jaxon Glanzer; his grandmother, Irene Seibel; uncles and aunts; cousins; and many other family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be directed to Chris Seibel Scholarship Fund at Tabor College.