Rex Wayne Replogle

Rex Replogle passed away in the early hours of May 25 at his home in Cedaredge, Colorado. Rex was born in Waldron, Kansas, on December 6, 1941. He spent his childhood in rural Kansas, later moving to Lawrence as a teenager following the death of his mother. Rex received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in fine arts from the University of Kansas. He found employment teaching sculpture and metalsmithing at Kansas State University. The University placed Rex in a shared office with another newly hired faculty member, Renata Osborn. Rex and Renata were married March 22, 1967. Their only child, Thadd Replogle, was born February 12, 1973. Both Rex's twin brother Ray Replogle and his older brother Don Replogle preceded Rex in death. Rex is survived by Renata, Thadd and daughter-in-law Amee' Replogle.

Rex was born the day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He grew up steeped in the Americana of the 1950s. Stories of cowboys and pioneers cultivated a passion for adventure that he would carry through his entire life. From the creeks of the Ozarks to the Boundary Waters of Minnesota to the canyons of the Southwest, Rex explored the land. He helped found the Kansas Canoe Association and its subsequent Kayak Chapter. In 1996 Kansas State offered an early retirement option for senior professors. Rex and Renata seized the opportunity.

Retirement presented the freedom to choose a new home. Rex and Renata followed childhood stories of the West and moved to Colorado. There they started a new life near the town of Cedaredge. Rex built a house and founded a hiking club that persists today. He spent his days hiking, skiing, running rivers and camping. For nearly three decades, Rex lived his childhood dreams of adventure.

The same pioneer spirit that lead Rex and Renata to Colorado, shaped his art. During his tenure at Kansas State, he displayed his art throughout the nation. His early works were often cast in bronze. They juxtaposed flowing organic shapes against sharp edges and mechanical aspects. In 1984 the Replogle family moved to Delta, Colorado, for one year while on sabbatical. Touring the National Parks of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico had a profound impact on Rex's art. He changed to working with wood. He created large forms that reflected the striated sandstone formations of places like Canyonlands and Arches National Park. Later Rex began to incorporate additional elements into these works. He transformed them into decorative tables, chairs and other functional pieces.

As Rex's retirement progressed, he began to read extensively. He became an amateur scholar, well versed in American history of the 1800s. He studied the stories of fur traders, pioneers and native tribes. This newfound hobby brought on his final evolution as an artist. He abandoned the abstraction of earlier work and began to craft decorative adaptations of common tools from his favorite era. Knives, tomahawks, powder horns and miniature replicas of canons adorned the Replogle house. He displayed and sold his final works at local shops and Rendezvous – where modern participants would re-enact frontier gatherings of the past.

Rex passed away on Memorial Day. Although he was never in the armed forces, he found other ways to serve to his community. He was active in his church and constantly searching for opportunities to help his neighbors. Rex lived well; he continued to build, work and learn to the very end.