Kenneth Wilkinson

Kenneth Wesley Wilkinson was born March 12, 1925 in Rawlins County Kansas and passed away on February 15, 2018 at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas at the age of 92.

Kenneth was born the second of three sons to Guy and Rosie (Urban) Wilkinson. He grew up on the family farm in northwest Rawlins County. He attended grade school at Lone Tree country school and then his freshman year at McDonald Rural High School continuing his education at Atwood High School where he graduated in 1943. In addition to academics, he also participated in wrestling and learned to play pool after school.

He was united in marriage to Phyllis Kacirek on January 21, 1946 at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in rural Rawlins County, Kansas. They were blessed with three sons Larry, Greg, and Brad and two daughters, Tanya and Lisa. They raised their family on a farm north of McDonald, Kansas.

Kenneth was a farmer and rancher his whole life. He enjoyed working outdoors planting and harvesting crops, raising cattle, caring for and riding horses and polka dancing. Although his dancing days were a thing of the past he still enjoyed listening to polka music until the last weeks of his life. Providing for the family and participating in life activities with family and friends throughout the years was an important part of his life.

St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church was his lifelong center of worship and he was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He valued his Catholic faith and it sustained him throughout his life.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Guy and Rosie Wilkinson and two brothers,Leonard and Raymond.

Family left to celebrate his life include his wife of 72 years, Phyllis of the home, sons; Larry and wife, Mary of Wichita, KS.; Greg and wife, Cheryl of McDonald, KS.; Brad and wife, Rosalie of Chanute, KS.; daughters, Tanya MacLaurin of Guelph, Ontario Canada and Lisa Johnson and husband, Rod of McDonald, KS.; 12 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, other relatives and a host of friends.

Visitations are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood and then 5:30-7:00 p.m. at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, rural Atwood, KS, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Febraury 21, 2018, also at the church, with burial to follow at the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials such as Mass requests have been suggested to St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church or donations to Rawlins County Hospital Foundation in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. Further information and on-line condolences may be found at baalmannmortuary.com.