LARNED — Donald Dean Schoonover, 79, passed away at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.

Don was born in Dodge City, Kan. on Oct. 22, 1942, the first of four children to Homer and Lavergne (Ingels) Schoonover, of Kingsdown, Kan. He graduated from Ford High School, Ford, Kan. in 1960. While in school, Don was a varsity letterman in football, basketball, and track. After graduating high school, he went on to study architecture at Kansas State University, graduating with a degree in business in 1965.

After graduation, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve (Electronics Maintenance Company Maintenance Battalion 4th Marine Division) and attended basic training at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Don began his career in the aerospace industry with the Boeing Company in Wichita and later in Seattle, Wash. where he met Mary Catharine (Cathy) Park. They were married at Eastminister Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kan. 

Don and Cathy lived in Arlington, Texas and Woodbridge, Va. before returning home to Kansas to be closer to family. In 1978, Don moved to Larned, Kan. where he formed the irrigation company, Ag Systems, Inc. with his brother Kent, serving farmers throughout western Kansas for nearly 40 years.

Growing up on a farm, Don valued honesty, integrity, hard work, and most of all he loved people. When not at “the shop” Don loved spending time with his four children and six grandchildren, whether on yearly snowmobiling trips to Colorado, cheering on his K-State Wildcats, or going to see his grandkids’ sporting events. Don and Cathy loved spending time with their three dogs and working on the house, stopping only to enjoy the occasional margarita together.

Don and Cathy had four children, David of Larned, Michelle (Mike) Daniel of Great Bend, Ashley (Scott) Taylor of Dodge City, and Jason of Nashville, Tenn., along with six grandchildren, Dylan Kent, Michael Warren, Brady and Laura Daniel, and Dawson and Addisyn Taylor. Don is survived by his brother Kent (Robyn) of Littleton, Colo.; sister-in-law, Leslie Schoonover of Dodge City; and brother-in-law, Alan Steele of Ford. Don is preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Lavergne Schoonover; his brother Rod Schoonover; and his sister Linda Steele.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 at the Presbyterian Church in Kingsdown, Kan. with Pastor Suzie Woods presiding. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 at Beckwith Mortuary in Larned, Kan. with family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Burial will be in the Ford Cemetery, Ford, Kan. with military graveside rites.

Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to the Ford Cemetery Fund or the Presbyterian Church of Kingsdown, Kan. in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Beckwith Mortuary

P.O. Box 477

Larned, KS 67550

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 10, 2021