Wendell M. Doonan, 91, died April 27, at Eckstein Center - Hospice of the Valley in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was born Feb. 27, 1923, in Great Bend, the son of Clarence Cecil and Florence Roberta (Bowyer) Doonan. On Jan. 31, 1944, he married Wanda Lee Wolf in Hoisington. She died Oct. 19, 1980. He then married Mary Jane (Stricker) Reich on March 12, 1983, in Great Bend.
A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mr. Doonan founded Doonan Truck and Equipment in 1947, an Oliver farm equipment dealership which was housed in a small building north of Great Bend on Highway 281. In 1950, the dealership was moved to north Main Street and a service station was added. Four years later, the GMC Truck franchise was secured and another move was made to a new building on Main Street. In 1961, the dealership moved to 10th Street and the 281 By-pass as a result of the new building burning.
The Peterbilt truck line was added in 1964. A new facility at the Highway 56 and 156 junction was opened in 1970 due to increased business where the present-day dealership is located. The Doonan Trailer facility was added in 1974 where Doonan’s own design of grain trailers, oilfield beds, pressure tanks, and flatbed and drop-deck trailers were manufactured. Mr. Doonan eventually had satellite dealerships in Wichita, Liberal, Garden City, and Grand Island, Neb. Those, with the exception of Great Bend and Wichita, have all been sold and the two remaining dealerships are owned and operated by his son, Kenny Doonan.
Mr. Doonan was a member of First United Methodist Church, Lions Club, A. F. & A. M. Masonic Lodge #15, and Isis Shrine, all of Great Bend; and Ascension Lutheran Church and ROMEOs at Ascension Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley, Ariz.
Mr. Doonan is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Doonan, of the home; three sons, Maurice Doonan of Kingman, Kenny Doonan and his wife Sue of Wichita, and Warren Doonan and his wife Jeanne of Hoisington; one sister, Evelyn Graham of Washington; one sister-in-law, Lila Doonan; nine grandchildren, Kelly Husher and her husband Steve, Dan Doonan and wife Debbie, Brian Doonan and his wife Shannon, Brent Doonan, Jennifer Pece and her husband Steve, Aaron Doonan and his wife Gina, Jarrod Doonan and his wife Lyndsay, Chelsea Coon and her husband Chris, and Darren Doonan and his wife Sabrina; 12 great-grandchildren, Madison Husher, Jacob Husher, Cassidy Husher, Quin Doonan, Brock Doonan, Preston Doonan, Ava Doonan, Jaxson Doonan, Liam Doonan, Jacey Doonan, Taetym Doonan, and Jovie Coon; one step-son, Tim Reich; one step-daughter, Jody Wise and her husband John; and three step-grandchildren, Lindsay Reich, Chandler Reich, and Alex Wise. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Dorothy Roberta Doonan; one step-son, Brian Reich; two brothers, Robert Doonan and Willard Doonan; and one sister, Margarite McAnulla.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Great Bend with the Reverend Judy Stricker officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with family receiving  friends from 6 to 8 p.m., on Thursday, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to First United Methodist Church or Shrine Travel Fund or Ascencion Lutheran Church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.
    
Funeral arrangements provided by    
Bryant Funeral Home**    
1425 Patton Road    
Great Bend, Ks. 67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, April 30, 2014