Reinhold Feldkamp

From: Sylvan Grove KS
Reinhold B. (Lefty) Feldkamp departed this life September 8, 2013. Born October 19, 1918 at Natoma, Kansas, he was the son of George and Mary (Hiitter) Feldkamp. He grew up on a farm in the Vesper community where he graduated from high school in 1936. He attended Oklahoma A and M (Oklahoma State) University on a baseball scholarship, achieving a bachelor of science degree. While there, he met and subsequently married Anna Mae Howell on January 16, 1942. He was a successful pitcher for his college team, played semi-pro ball and was forced to forfeit his chance to play for the St Louis Cardinals when he was drafted and served almost 4 years in the United States army, European theater, during World War II. He taught vocational agriculture for 33 years and influenced countless young men through his role as advisor in the Future Farmers of America.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Leo H. Feldkamp, and an infant sister, Delma. Survivors include his wife, Anna Mae Feldkamp of the home; a daughter, Mary Lynn Snyder of Fort Worth, Texas;a son, Ron (Cindy) Feldkamp, rural Vesper Kansas, five grandsons, Jared Snyder, Fort Worth, Texas; JevinSnyder, Dallas, Texas; Seth (Rachel) Feldkamp, Mission, Kansas; Ty (Jennifer) Feldkamp, rural Vesper, Kansas;Will Feldkamp, Sylvan Grove, Kansas; and four great grandchildren, Anna, Abby and Ben Feldkamp all of ruralVesper, Kansas and Zoe Luster, Denton, Texas. Lefty just loved to visit. There weren't any strangers in his world. He would strike up a conversation with anyone and when they parted ways it was like they had known each other for years. If you were family, sage wisdom like "There's always room for ice cream, it just melts and fills up the cracks" would be a part of the dialogue. If you were an "ag boy" during his 33 year tenure of school teaching, you would usually hear words meant to build your character as well as the shop project you were working on. He would talk of baseball, current events, farming skills, family and more. He just loved to visit. He loved to play cards too, most any kind, but Buck (a game brought over from Germany) was his favorite. He went back to Germany in his retirement and found his ancestral home had been declared a provincial landmark. He would reminisce of that adventure often. Lefty was a man of diverse abilities; the pitcher of a devastating fastball, a servant to his country, a wonderful wingshot and a lover of family but making you his friend with a good visit was his real talent. Visitation - 1:00-7:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 11, 2013, at Hall Chapel. Family will be present from 6:00-7:00 P.M. Services - 10:00 A.M. Thursday, September 12, 2013, at Hall Chapel. Interment will follow at Immanuel Cemetery, 4 miles south of Vesper. Memorials may be made to Lincoln Senior Center and Sylvan Grove American Legion Post #359.

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