Kenny Winkenwader

Kenneth Dean Winkenwader, age 90 of Waterville, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2026, at his residence.

He was born on June 11, 1936, in Waterville, the son of John Henry and Bessie Mae (Nemecheck) Winkenwader. He graduated from Waterville High School and served in the Kansas Army National Guard Engineer Battalion for six years.

Following high school, he farmed in Marshall and Riley counties. During the 1960's he worked for General Dynamics in Topeka and later worked for thirty years in the ASCS office in Marysville.

Kenny started drawing in grade school and it became a lifetime hobby for him. He painted murals in the Waterville Grade School with the help of students from books like "Hank, The Cow Dog" and "The Rats of Torin". He has paintings in the Waterville Depot Museum and in 1999, painted the mural on the lumberyard wall.

He was a member of the Waterville United Methodist Church, helped get recycling started in the Valley Heights School District and was involved with the Central Branch Railroad. He even performed in the musicals "Showboat" and "The King and I" at the Waterville Opera House.

On September 27, 1964, he married Diane Dettmer. They later divorced.

He married Patricia Marie (Templeton) Krasny in Waterville on November 8, 1986. She survives of the home.

In addition to his wife Pat Winkenwader, he is survived by two sons, Kent D. Winkenwader of Wichita and James D. Winkenwader of Hutchinson; one daughter, Lynne Turner (Rick) of Blue Rapids; three step children, Mary Jo Krasny (Jan Ayers) of Topeka, Ed J. Krasny (Alofa Mariner) of Auburn, and Bill Krasny (Dana) of Wakarusa; five grandchildren, Madison Winkenwader of Wichita, Casey Turner (Brandy) of Blue Rapids, Tina Turner of Mitchell, South Dakota, Eddie Krasny of Topeka, and Lia Kelly (Austin) of Clay Center, and three great grandsons, Dayton Turner, Easton Turner, and Haden Turner, all of Blue Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, John Junior Winkenwader.

A memorial service will be held on August 21, 2026, at 11:00 am, at the Waterville United Methodist Church with Pastor Derek Slack officiating. Inurnment will be in the Riverside Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Central Branch Railroad. Contributions may be left in care of the Christie-Anderes Funeral Home, PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.