John Kroenlein

From: Goodland KS
John William Kroenlein, 70, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. He was born to Arnold and Beatrice (Lewis) Kroenlein, rural Lincoln, on October 4, 1944. He grew up on the family farm and was a 1962 graduate of Beverly Rural High School. He graduated from Kansas State University, Manhattan, in 1966 with a degree in Agriculture Education. During his years at KSU he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and worked part time at Kleppers Gas Station. In the summer of 1966 he married Arleta Wiebke of Lincoln, Kansas, and was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving a tour of duty in Vietnam. After his army discharge, John served as head of the Ag Department at Dodge City Community College while continuing his advanced education to receive an MS and higher level studies in Agriculture Education from KSU. His interest in agriculture continued throughout his life. One of John's early entrepreneur efforts was the development and design of the M and K Cafe. He was an innovator of the primitive, minimalist style of restaurant design. Later he began his own construction company, Cherokee River, Inc., at Burlington, Colorado, which he owned and operated until his retirement in December 2014. John's various hobbies included flying his own plane, welding, building design, and Kansas State Athletics. He loved to laugh and loved making his friends laugh. His kind nature and good humor endeared him to many and was a trademark of his life. John was a member of the Church of Christ, Goodland. He is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Poole, Cedar Glen, California; five siblings, James (Donna) Kroenlein, Karolyn (Ron) Tacha, Marsha (Mont) Fair, Mary Margaret (Jon) Funk, all of Manhattan; Marylyn Bell, Lincoln, eleven nieces and nephews to whom he was very special, and ex-wife, Arleta Roberts, Long Beach, California. Visitation: 1-7:00 P.M. Friday, May 15, Hall Chapel, Lincoln. Celebration of Life Service: 1:00 P.M. Saturday, May 16, Beverly Community Church, Beverly, Kansas. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Beverly City Cemetery. Memorials may be designated to Goodland's Church of Christ or Meals on Wheels at Goodland, % Hall Funeral Home, 111 East Elm, Lincoln, Kansas 67455. » View what others have shared.

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