Ricky Lee "Rudy" Kubes, age 66, passed away peacefully on February 3rd, 2019 in Clay Center, Kansas. His funeral will be Friday, February 15th at 2:00 PM, at Kuncl funeral home in Crete, NE. Rick was born September 30th, 1952 in Mobile, Alabama to Warren and Darlene Kubes. He was the oldest out of 9 children. Rick's parents moved around while his father was in the military and eventually made their permanent home in Pleasant Hill, NE. He was a graduate of Dorchester High School in 1971. Rick joined the United States Navy and graduated boot camp August 1971. He served onboard the USS Trepang while in the Navy. He married Leslie Bruns on November 24, 1979. Rick and Leslie resided in Lincoln. Rick worked at the University of Nebraska power plant. Rick and Leslie welcomed their first child Matthew Lee on January 12th 1981. Rick attended college at Milford Southeast Community College and graduated with an Electronics Engineering degree in March 1984. Upon graduation, he moved the family to Auburn, Nebraska and took a job at Cooper Nuclear Power Station. On May 4th 1985 they welcomed their second child, Mary Beth. Rick retired from NPPD at the age of 60. Rick enjoyed his grandkids, traveling, Husker football games, Kansas City Royals, eating ice cream, telling jokes…and of course fishing. Rick enjoyed bass fishing the most, strictly catch and release. He had a small boat he would take to farm ponds and smaller lakes. He had a big boat that he would take to larger lakes and Canada where he liked to catch "fish with teeth." He is survived by his wife Leslie, son Matthew and his wife Amanda, daughter Mary and her husband Scott Mellage. His grandkids include Ella Kubes, Jade Mellage, and Jack Mellage. Rick had 8 siblings- Mike and Pam Kubes, the late Terry Kubes and his wife Debb Kubes, Don and Debbi Novak, Larry and Lori Graham, Daryl and Connie Coffey, Jodee Skala, Joel and Jackie Johnson, and Jim and Ann Kubes, and several nieces and nephews. Rick was cremated in Topeka and his ashes will be buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Saline County, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents Warren and Darlene Kubes, and his brother Terry Kubes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.