Obituary of Earl Wineinger, Marion County, KSGenWeb Digital Library

MARION COUNTY RECORD, 7 June 2000

Obituary of EARL WINEINGER

Friends, associates, and former students of Earl Wineinger, 62, were deeply saddened last week when they learned of his untimely death.

He had been a popular teacher at high schools in Marion and Hillsboro, as well as at Kansas State University.

Born April 23, 1938, at Norwich, he was the youngest of the four children of Max and Fern (Davis) Wineinger.

He was baptized at Norwich Christian Church April 17, 1949, and lived a Christian life, always putting others first.

He attended rural grade school and graduated from Norwich High School.
Active in 4-H, he became the state entomology winner in 1955 and received a trip to Chicago. He also had the top show steer in Kingman County in 1956.

At Kansas State University he majored in vocational agriculture education, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1960 and his master's in 1968. His career
as a teacher began at Florence High School in 1960. It was there that he met his future wife, Mary Lee Freeborn.

He advanced up to the State Vocational Education office in 1965 and was there until 1972 when he accepted a position with the National FFA in Alexandria, Va.After two years in the shadows of the nation's Capitol, he decided it was not where he wanted to raise his family. He accepted the position of vocational agriculture teacher at Marion High School in 1974 and taught there until 1985 when he became State FFA executive secretary at KSU in Manhattan.

In 1980, wanting to be near his family at Marion, he returned to teaching by accepting a position at Hillsboro High School. He was on the faculty there until his illness.

He and Mary Lee were married July 15, 1962, at Florence Christian Church. The couple had three children. He was proud of the accomplishments of his children, and was especially fond of his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Lee, of the home in Marion; daughter Robin Richmond, and husband, Tim, and their daughter, Misti, of Marion; two sons,
Matt, his wife, Judy, and their daughter, Abby, Wichita; and Ron, his wife, Tami, and their two children, Elizabeth and Andrew, Fort Collins, Colo.; one sister, Fern Davis, and one brother, Max Wineinger, of Norwich; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Harold, who died in a tractor accident; one sister-in-law; and one nephew.

Services were held Saturday morning at Florence Christian Church with Jerry Winkley and Pastor Harold Brown officiating.

Justin McKee presented readings, Lynn Rundle was the vocalist, and Lorene Brown, pianist. Casket bearers were Dr. Kathryn Hayes, Ron Goodwin, Gary Raleigh, Melanie Mainquist, Sam Hands, and Dennis Shurtz.

Private interment was held at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Friends, former students, and associates agree that Earl Wineinger always put his students first in whatever they did, encouraging them to succeed to their fullest potential in whatever they pursued, be it FFA, sports, music, or others.

In that regard, the family has suggested that a memorial fund be established at Central National Bank for a scholarship to be used by FFA students; or to a memorial fund at Florence Christian Church.

Transcribed and Contributed by Janice Reading