GySgt Kenneth Owen Kibilko

February 18, 1946 - April 6, 2022

GySgt. Kenneth O. Kibilko, Sr., USMC (Ret.), 76, of Sylvester, GA, died Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. His funeral service will be at 3 PM on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Kimbrell-Stern with interment to follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. The Rev. Johnny Lloyd will officiate. The family will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern prior to the service beginning at 2 PM. Mr. Kibilko had 50 plus years of faithful service to the United States Marine Corps. He started his career with the Marines on March 26, 1963 at Boot Camp in San Diego, CA. After Basic Training, he was assigned to MOS 0331 Machine Gunner and his first duty station was Camp Pendleton, CA. He served 2 tours in Vietnam with Lima 3/3 and Charlie 1/9 “the walking dead.” During Operation Starlight in 1965, he received a Purple Heart. Mr. Kibilko served as a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, SC. He also served 3 tours in Japan; one in Iwakuni and two in Okinawa. His Marine Corps formal training includes Engineer Equipment Mechanic Course and Equipment Chief Course among various other courses through the years. He retired from active duty in 1984 as a GySgt (E-7) after 21 plus years of service. Mr. Kibilko began his Civil Service career with the Marine Corps in Albany, GA in 1984 as a Heavy Equipment Specialist in the Technical Support Division. Since that time, he has held many positions which include Ordinance Specialist, Industrial Engineering Technician, and MMC Engineering Technician. His career began as a GS-5 and concluded at the rank of GS-12, working in the LOGCOM Maintenance Management Center. On December 27, 2014 after 50 plus years, Mr. Kibilko said “It’s time to take off my pack.” Mr. Kibilko is survived by his wife: Tina Kibilko, Sylvester; children: Michelle Shene (Gary) Midway, GA, Kenneth O. Kibilko, Jr. (Angela), Kingsland, GA, Amanda Hawkins (Leslie), Albany, Brittany Joiner (B.J.), Michigan, Dana Powell (Robert), Colorado, Daniel Kibilko, Sylvester; 11 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; mother: Marjorie Toseff, Hickory Hills, IL; brother: Mark Kibilko (Karen), South Carolina; sister-in-law: Mary Kibilko, Tinley Park, IL; special niece: Amber Hudson (Mike) Sylvester; several nieces and nephews. Those desiring may send memorials to Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org.