Linn Stanley Krebs

October 27, 1947 – July 10, 2026

“Reports of my demise are no longer greatly exaggerated.”

Linn Krebs, born October 27, 1947, in Moline, Illinois, died peacefully on July 10, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family.  A memorial visitation will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, at Vandemore Funeral Home – Geneseo Chapel.  Inurnment will be held at a later date at Aledo Cemetery, Aledo, IL.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Tunnels to Towers Foundation (t2t.org) or the Colona Fire Department, 401 1st Street, Colona, IL, 61241.

Early on Linn attended Rock Island schools but graduated from Sherrard High School and attended Black Hawk College. In his youth he began farming at the age of 14, working 156 acres under the guidance of his father, Harry “Jack” Krebs, who taught him the value of hard work, a firm handshake, and keeping one’s word.

Linn served in the United States Air Force, November ‘67-November ‘71 (Vietnam ‘69-‘70) achieving the rank of E-5 Staff Sergeant. He served in the 823rd RED HORSE Squadron on a PRIME BEEF team part of the Air Force’s highly mobile, self-sufficient heavy construction forces, available to be deployed anywhere in the world within 24 hours.

After his time in the service, Linn worked at the Roth Pump Company in Milan, IL, where he retired after 46 1/2 years.  

Those who knew Linn knew his quiet nature and unmistakable scowl. While some may have mistaken it for anger, Linn would have explained that he was simply uncomfortable in crowds—and that a good frown tended to solve a lot of problems. With that said, if you knew Linn and his sense of humor, he had that little grin and twinkle in his eye when he was laughing and joking with friends and family. 

Above all, Linn wanted the world to know that Kay Brown Krebs, whom he married on August 4, 1968, and shared 57 wonderful years of marriage, was, is, and always will be the love of his life. He knew early in their relationship that she was the woman with whom he wanted to build a family. Together they raised two sons and shared the joy of five grandchildren, a great-grandchild, and a growing family. Linn was always proud to call Kay Brown his wife.

Linn was immensely proud of his sons, Tim and Nathan, the men they became, and the families they built. He was grateful that Lesley became part of the family and was proud of the life she and Nathan built together and the loving home they created for Abby and Alex. 

He took great pride in his grandchildren—Andrew, Haylee, Zack, Abby, and Alex—and treasured the opportunity to watch each of them grow and find their own path in life. Although most knew Linn as a man of few words—and more than willing to let Kay do the talking—he was never short on words when it came to his grandchildren. He loved telling people about their accomplishments and successes and was always proud to share what they were doing with their lives.

Linn was also proud of the family his oldest grandson, Andrew, built with his wife, Vanessa, and the joy their son, Casen, brought to the family. He looked forward with love to the arrival of their second son and to seeing the next generation of his family continue to grow.

Linn remembered with love his father, Harry “Jack” Krebs, who taught him so much in life. He also remembered Jack’s wife, Evelyn Krebs, who came into Linn’s life after his return from Vietnam and became the mother he needed and wanted. Her kindness, strength of character, and remarkable ability to bring two families together left a lasting mark on his life and on the family she lovingly embraced.

That same belief extended to his “siblings”, the Barkau and Johnson families, whom he met also after returning from Vietnam. Through countless holidays, good times, laughter, and years of shared memories, they became far more than extended family. Linn wanted them to know, simply: “You are my family.”

Linn believed that life was too short not to go through it laughing, and he along with Kay, his sons, and the rest of the family, did plenty of that. He also believed that death was a necessary part of life—that without it, life would have no sweetness.

By his own account, there was plenty of sweetness in his life.

Linn knew that he had been loved. He hoped those he left behind knew just as surely how deeply he loved them.  He believed “Life is too short not to go through it laughing.”

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Kay Krebs; children, Tim Krebs and Nathan (Lesley) Krebs; grandchildren, Andrew (Vanessa) Krebs, Haylee Krebs, Abby Krebs, Zack Krebs, and Alex Krebs; great-grandson, Casen Krebs, and another great-grandson on his way; siblings, Dennis (Diana) Barkau, Mike (Ilene) Barkau, and Linda (Marc) Johnson; and many nieces and nephews.

Linn was preceded in death by his parents, Harry “Jack” and Evelyn Krebs.