Dateline – Hoisington
George James Rice, 73, died September 3, 2021, at Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri. He was born April 10, 1948, the son of Kenneth and Martha (Wittig) Rice. George was a 1966 graduate of Hoisington High School. He then attended Fort Hays State College and Kansas University.
A lifetime Hoisington resident, George was an oil field operator and owner of the Rice Production Company. He was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church where he served on the church council. He was involved in his community, serving on the city council and was mayor for several years and a member of the Jaycees. George also enjoyed coaching his children’s little league and basketball teams.
On April 8, 1978 he married Jane L. Vink at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Hoisington.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jane Rice of the home; daughter, Tonya Deal and husband Jeff of Hutchinson; son, Adam Rice and wife Kelly of Lenexa; brothers, Richard Rice of Dripping Springs, Texas, John Rice of Edmond, Oklahoma, Jerry Rice of Greenwood, Arkansas, and Ben Rice of Great Bend; a sister, Martha DeHaven of Cresson, Texas; brother-in-law, Rich Vink and wife Norma of Topeka; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Fairchild and Brenda Wilson both of Topeka, and Kim Loring and husband Eric of Prior Lake, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Piper and Hudson Deal, and Kase, Finley, and Madden Rice; and two step-grandchildren, Anna & Evann Deal.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Kenneth Rice and a sister Ruth Dailey.
Visitation will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday and 1-8 p.m. Monday with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. A Prayer service will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, all at the funeral home.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at Concordia Lutheran Church, with Pastors Gary Wolf and Tim Carey presiding.
A private family graveside service will be held at a later date in Hoisington Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Kans for Kids or Clara Barton Hospital Foundation in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.