Kris Marshall Simbro

Kris Marshall Simbro, 70, of Newton died on Monday, January 6, 2025, at the Comfort House in Pella.  A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, January 13, at Community Heights Alliance Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 3-6 p.m. the prior afternoon, Sunday, January 12, at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Kris’ name may be left at the church during the services or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory (checks made payable to Ryan Simbro).

Kris, the son of Clifford and Patricia (Marshall) Simbro, was born on April 7, 1954, in Des Moines.  He graduated from Newton High School in 1972 and was a lifelong resident of Newton. Just like his father, he had a love for the outdoors and a passion for building and fixing things, which most often involved helping others. He was well known for doing things the right way and of high quality. Kris loved all things automotive from an early age.  He used his childhood paper route money to buy model cars.  In high school Kris bought his favorite toy and conversation piece, his 1940 Chevy Coupe, to which he devoted countless hours of playing and wrenching. He graduated from DMACC with a degree in Auto Mechanics, parked the car in the corner of the garage and began building his greatest creation – his family.  

On October 21, 1977, Kris was united in marriage with Shari Blackledge. They were blessed with three children, Resa, Ryan, and Cody.  Kris worked for several years as an Auto Mechanic at area car dealerships and service shops. In 1983, he began working for the Newton Community School District as a mechanic.  He was eventually promoted to the role of Director of Transportation and thrived for many years, building countless friendships and a reputation as a strong leader. He retired from this position in 2013.  Throughout his career he was a loyal provider for his family growing in his faith in Christ, full of love and humility. 

Following the death of his wife, Shari in 2011, Kris eventually married Sandy Nettinga Smit on October 3, 2015, at Maytag Park. They knew they were God's gift to each other with renewed opportunities for companionship, and their two families united to enjoy many years together. Kris never missed his grandkids events, the decades-long Simbro-Marshall deer hunting tradition, or building and wrenching with his sons.  They eventually pulled that Chevy Coupe into the center of the garage and restored it to Kris’ delight.  Amidst severe pain and illness, Kris attended the Pella Bologna Nationals car show with his entire family in the Summer of 2024, bringing immense joy to his heart despite knowing what lay before him.  Behind a humble exterior was the grit of a warrior, the faith of an angel and the courage of a lion. On Monday, January 6, Kris finally succumbed to a battle his flesh couldn’t win. Never complaining, his body gave way to a cancer that was determined to take his life.

Kris is survived by his wife, Sandy Simbro of Newton; children, Resa (Heath) Eckhart of Urbandale, Ryan (Sara) Simbro of Monroe, Cody (Stacey) Simbro of Sully, Emily (James) Dorr of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Ben Smit of Arcata, California; his grandchildren, Ella and Emma Eckhart, Ryder, Rylyn, Saylem, Saydey, and Samuel Simbro, Brock and Beau Simbro, and Averie and Daxton Dorr; siblings, Joyce (Jerry) Kingery of Newton, Carroll (Jill) Simbro of Newton, Steve Smith of Baxter, and Merle Smith of Newton; and his sister-in-law, Beth Simbro of Baxter.  He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Shari Simbro; brother, Kalven Simbro; and sister-in-law, Janie Smith.

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