John Junior Winkenwader

John J. Winkenwader, 83, passed away March 3 after a long illness. He was born on a farm north of Waterville, Kansas to John and Bessie (Nemechek) Winkenwader on October 31, 1927.
John graduated from Waterville High School in 1945. He served in the Navy during WWII in the Philippines.

He married Donna Taplin on November 10, 1946 in Barnes, Kansas. He farmed a few years before moving to Topeka in 1951. He worked at Colmery O'Neil Veterans Medical Center until joining the Topeka Police Dept. in 1953. He retired as a captain in 1975. After his retirement, he worked as a security guard at Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

He was a member of Town and Country Christian Church, the Fraternal Order of Police, the American Legion, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the VFW. He enjoyed hunting, traveling and most of all seeing his grandchildren. We will all remember our special memories of him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Mark, and three grandchildren.
John is survived by his wife of 64 years, Donna; three daughters, Gayla (Jon) Eggers, Wanda (Dennis) Craig, both of Whidbey Island, Washington, and Laura (Russ) Fair of Solomon, Kansas; one son, John F. Winkenwader of Topeka; one brother, Kenneth Winkenwader of Waterville; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

John was cremated. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 12 at 11:00AM at Town & Country Christian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Town & Country Christian Church, 4925 SW 29th St. Topeka, KS 66614 or Midland Hospice Care Inc. 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606.