Humble community and youth supporter Kevin Hatch will be missed

By Becky Uehling

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

Kevin Hatch was a man who was tough as nails on the outside, but with a giving heart of gold on the inside. This is how many who knew Kevin are describing the 65-year-old Grant business man who passed away last week at his home, surrounded by family. 

The son of Earl and Darlene Hatch, Kevin grew up in Grant, becoming a star athlete in many sports. This included being a Golden Glove boxer, excelling at baseball as an All-Star first baseman, and being a member of the Perkins County High School’s 1975 Nebraska State Champion football team, the first of such honors for the school. Kevin’s passion for athletics followed him after high school when he played on town ball and golf leagues and bowling teams. 

Many remember Kevin as a fearless athlete in every sport he tried. Two of his classmates, Russ Pankonin and Kevin Poppe, both had admiration for Hatch’s dedication and fearlessness towards athletics and life. 

“He was very smart,” Poppe said saying he could easily, and correctly size up any situation. “He was a bit of a rebel with a cause.”

Pankonin remembers Hatch as a tough athlete and a great leader during their high school sport’s careers. Both Poppe and Pankonin commented on how Hatch took this same energy and poured it into the community he loved after high school, doing everything with a humble spirit.

Hatch channeled his love for sports into supporting and mentoring youth throughout his life. Along with starting the youth wrestling program in Grant, being very instrumental in the Perkins County Youth Development Club, Grant Jaycees and Economic Development committee, Kevin and the Hatch Super Food family never held back with giving from their bounty to many in the community. 

Kevin followed in his family’s footsteps when he chose a career in the grocery industry after high school, and through it blessed many. 

Kevin was always behind the scenes, coming up with ways to support the town he loved. From supporting the school in numerous ways, to donating to the food pantry and community meals, to the school’s weekend backpack program—including donating a gallon of milk to each participant each week— to supporting the fire departments and other civic organizations, Kevin was always there. 

“Kevin and Hatch’s essentially fed this community and county for 40 plus years,” said Monica Poppe. “To know the real Kevin Hatch was to know a person with empathy, kindness, hardworking pride and love for community, and doing it all behind the scenes.”

According to Kevin’s longtime employee and friend Val Hochstein, Kevin could see the big picture of any situation and help to guide it, and the people involved, to get the best outcome. 

“Kevin Hatch was a smart, creative man who could solve any problem,” Hochstein said. “He had an eye for detail. It never ceased to amaze me how he would spot something we employees had overlooked without even appearing to try.” 

Hochstein said that Kevin considered and treated the employees at Hatch’s like family, “and there was nothing he would not do for any one of us,” she said. “He was kind and generous, always putting others and his community before himself. We will miss him profoundly.”

Former Grant Fire Chief and banker Don Softley commented that Kevin was a “silent supporter” for many in the community.

“He made certain a service organization received the highest quality items when an order was place through the store,” Softley said. “He often made certain a donation would appear through the purchasing of various products for a service group.  Kevin wanted every fund raising event to be successful.”

Perkins County School Superintendent Phillip Picquet echoed the sentiment of Hatch’s donating part or all the supplies to the school, to help each committee earn more from any event. 

“We always knew we could go to Kevin and Hatch’s for support,” Picquet said.

Picquet also praised Kevin and Hatch’s Super Foods for providing several work study experiences for the high school youth. 

“They would go out of their way to work around the kids’ schedules so they could get a work experience, but also have time to participate in activities at the school. This has been very beneficial for our students,” he said. 

Former Grant resident, Plainsmen basketball coach and Perkins County School’s Athletic Director Larry Pritchett also commented on Kevin’s willingness to take the extra step in providing for the kids. 

“When I was AD in Grant,  he provided things for the school for about anything you needed them for with little discussion,” Pritchett said. “If I needed something he got it for me. I know that he did tons of stuff for the community and never made a big deal out of it.” Pritchett stated he feels Kevin was one of the most giving people in Perkins County and never expected any acknowledgment of it. 

“He had a very generous side and did more for Grant and Perkins County than a lot of people ever knew happened,” Pritchett said. 

Pritchett also recalled the razzing Kevin gave him after he returned to coaching at Grant after a few years being away in other communities. 

“No matter where I saw him, at the store, at the post office, or just on the street somewhere in Grant, he would always stop me and we would have a visit,” Pritchett said. “It wasn’t always about sports, but he would almost always ask how I was doing, and when I got back into coaching, he would ask if the team was going to win any games or not and then just laugh! He liked to kid me a little.”

Between Kevin’s good natured teasing, there was also a softer side to him, and for those who saw it they were blessed, according to Val Hochstein’s daughter Leslie Burge. 

“If you were lucky enough to receive a card or a note from him, you were sure to be laughing or crying (or both) after reading it,” Burge said. “He often wrote notes on the back of used envelopes or scrap paper, and they were the best. He will be deeply missed by many.”

Services for Kevin Hatch will be held on Wednesday, Nov., 2, at 1:30 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Grant with Pastor Michael Heckmann officiating. Husker or Plainsmen attire is encouraged. Interment will be in the Grant Fairview Cemetery. A full obituary for Kevin Hatch can be found on Page 2 of this week’s edition.