Jeffrey S. Tarbert

Jeffrey Steven Tarbert, 43, left this world to be with Jesus on Saturday, November 4, 2023.

He was born in Marion to Steven W. Tarbert and the late Kay Elaine (Mollencop) Tarbert. Jeff grew up in Bucyrus where he was active in scouting and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Bucyrus High School in 1999 where he made countless friends, played saxophone in the band, and wrestled. Jeff proudly enlisted in the US Marine Corps. While serving, he was a pistol expert, rifle sharpshooter, and served two tours in Iraq. He was a District Manager for Murphy USA and previously for Dollar General Stores where he met the former Kellie J. Kampas whom he married in Hawaii on April 28 of this year.

Jeff will be remembered as a loving, loyal, understanding, compassionate, and caring man who was very tough mentally and always smiling, laughing, and making new friends. He truly cherished his children, Mackenzie and Ashton, loved supporting them at all their events and playing with them in the yard. He and Ashton attended a lot of concerts, target shoots, and pro wrestling matches together. Jeff and Kellie shared a passion for traveling, especially visiting Rainforest Cafés. He was always planning their next adventure and they only had one Rainforest Café left to have visited them all.

At home, the family also loved decorating for every holiday and he and Mackenzie had just completed Christmas decorations. Jeff also loved the Ohio State Buckeyes and maintained his large collection of Transformers and G.I. Joe.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Kellie Tarbert; stepsons, Jaden and Joseph Martinez; father, Steven (Brendan) Tarbert; sister, Trisha (Jesus) Garduno; stepbrothers, Eric (Staci) Routzahn and Craig (Lindsay) Routzahn; and his beloved children, Mackenzie and Ashton Tarbert. He was preceded in death by his mother; grandparents, Bill & Joy Tarbert and Paul & Betty Mollencop; and his uncle Mike Tarbert.

Services for Jeff will be held on Friday, November 10 at Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus. His children will receive friends from 11 am-12:55 pm and his memorial service will begin at 1:00 pm with Pastor Rodney Noblit officiating. Services will conclude with military rites by the Bucyrus Veterans Military Funeral Detail.

Memorial donations are encouraged to be made payable to “Semper Fi & America’s Fund” and given at the funeral home. Memories and photos can be shared in the guestbook.