IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Ken Vinduska
Funeral Mass for Kenneth Edward Vinduska, 78, Marion, who passed away Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita after a brief illness, was 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 22 at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Pilsen.
His family gathered with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, at the church.
After the Mass, he was laid to rest with military honors in Pilsen Cemetery.
Ken was a doting father, devoted husband, and a lifelong servant of God in the Catholic faith.
He born on Feb. 1, 1945, in Wichita to George L. and Amelia (Neuwirth) Vinduska.
Ken grew up in Pilsen, attended Pilsen Grade School, and was part of the first freshman class at the consolidated Centre High School, where he graduated.
Ken voluntarily joined the U.S. Army in 1962 and was honorably discharged in 1965.
He used the G.I. Bill to attend Wichita State University, graduating with a degree in business administration in 1970.
Ken went to work for Reynolds Metals, selling siding, and then for Round-Up Enterprises, selling oil field tanks.
When oil production slowed in the 1980s, Ken worked at Hesston and for Golden Grain in Peabody among other jobs to support his family.
Ken later went to work at Marion Manor, becoming a nursing home administrator and serving in that role for more than 17 years.
After he retired from Marion Manor, Ken sold long-term care insurance and worked as custodian for the Marion Post Office.
Ken was a faithful parishioner of Holy Family Parish in Marion County. He had served as grand knight of the Pilsen Knights of Columbus before joining St. Mark’s in Marion and frequently led Rosary recitation before Sunday Mass in Marion in his later years.
He served on St. Luke Hospital board during the hospital’s expansion and served on the USD 408 school board as member and president for multiple years.
Ken was a member of the Hillsboro American Legion post and Marion Kiwanis Club.
After a nine-year courtship, he was united in marriage on Nov. 10, 1995, to Bonnie (Mitchell) Wealand. Ken’s family was very important to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Edwin, sister Sylvia Moravec, and sister Margie Stroda.
He is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie, of Marion and his four children from his first marriage to Rose (Melcher) Vinduska: Joan Dold (and husband Dan) of Emporia, Christopher Vinduska (and wife Jana) of Bel Aire, Zachary Vinduska (and wife Karen) of Wichita, and Terese Donahoe of Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Other survivors include grandchildren Katelyn, Jeremy, Elijah (and wife Clarissa), Amelia, Sara, Nicholas, Joseph, Matthew, Oliver, Martin, and Kennedy; great granddaughter Lyla; brother Harold “Bud” Vinduska of Florence; multiple nieces and nephews; Bonnie’s children, Kerry Justus (and husband Kevin) of Oklahoma, and Amy Taylor (and husband Andy) of Independence; Bonnie’s grandchildren, Maddie (and husband Seth), Kasey, and Lillie; and her great-granddaughter, Jenna.
Yazel-Megli Funeral Home is serving the family.
Memorial contributions in Ken’s name may be directed to the Father Kapaun Legacy Fund.
Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Ken at www.yazelmeglifh.com.