Donald Eugene Ek

Ek, Donald Eugene, formerly of Emporia, Kan., passed away March 3, 2014, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, from complications of pneumonia. He was born Feb. 26, 1929, to Reuben and Luella Ek in White City, Kan. He married Elaine White on Aug. 24, 1950, in Denver, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Elaine of Wichita; three sisters, Doris (Keith) Morgan and Betty (Ken) Morgan of Dwight, Kan., Maxine (Bill) Pickett of Council Grove, Kan.; three sons, Greg (Debby) Ek, John (Brenda) Ek of Wichita, and Larry Ek of Emporia. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Katie Ek of Kansas City, Mo., Andy (McKenzie) Ek and Allison (Nick) Kerr, Evan and Griffin Ek, all of Wichita; and three great-grandchildren, Greyson and Landen Ek and Madelyn Kerr. Don grew up on a farm outside of Dwight and graduated from Dwight Rural High School in 1946. He attended the College of Emporia, where he met his wife, Elaine, and graduated in 1950. Don earned 12 college athletic letters: four in football, four in basketball, and four in track. In 1950, Ek broke the 1928 KCAC track record in the shot put. He was the All-Conference fullback in 1949. Not long after leaving C. of E., he was a member of the 1952 United States Navy Pacific Fleet Football Team. He eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, was a veteran of the Korean War and served in the Naval reserves. He went on to receive his Masters Degree from Emporia State University. His first teaching and coaching job was in Overbrook, Kan. In 1956, after serving in the Navy, they moved back to Emporia where he taught math and served as Assistant Principal at Emporia High and later a Principal at Roosevelt HS. Don began selling real estate part time in summer 1960 for Hod Farrow then opened his own company, Ek Real Estate in 1965. He was awarded with various honors including Realtor of the Year in 1992. He served his community well as a member of the Emporia School Board, Secretary and past President of the Emporia Realtors Association, Director of Kansas Association of Realtors, past president of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, and member of the Emporia Enterprises Board of Trustees, United Way Board of Trustees, and ESU Foundation Board of Trustees. He also was a board member of Emporia State Bank. In 2012, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award. They lived in Emporia until moving to Wichita in October 2012. Don was an avid golfer, loved to grow tomatoes and work in his yard. He loved spending weekends with his family for 42 years at Lake Kahola. His greatest joy was attending and watching each of his son's and grandchildren's sporting events. He loved life and spent every day enjoying every moment of it. Visitation will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening, at the First Congregational Church, Emporia, Kan., where he and Elaine were members. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 7, at the church, with Reverend Andrew McHenry officiating. Interment will be immediately following the service at the Maplewood Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by Ball-McColm Post #5, American Legion and Lowry-Funston Post #1980 Veterans of Foreign Wars. Memorial contributions to Emporia State University Endowment Association and Lake Kahola Memorial Fund may be sent in care of Roberts Blue Barnett Funeral Home, PO Box 175, Emporia, KS 66801. Online condolences for the family may be sent through the funeral home website: www.robertsblue.com