Wendell Charles Kombrink

Wendell Charles Kombrink, 79, was born to Charles Edward and Helen Marie (Benz) Kombrink on March 5th, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri. His good soul left this earth June 27th, 2008. Wendell grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and graduated from both Raytown High School and Central Missouri State College. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Staff Sergeant in the Korean War. He was introduced to his future wife, Adalene "Anne" Foster by a mutual friend. Although they hadn't yet met, they corresponded while he was in Korea. When he returned from his tour of duty, they finally met, dated and married on June 13th, 1954, at St. Peter's United Church of Christ, in Kansas City, MO, where they became founding members of the Double Ring Club. During his career, Wendell worked as a Tire, Battery and Accessories Salesman for four major Tire & Petroleum Companies. He took early retirement from the Firestone Tire Company in 1986. That same year he began his own K&K Automotive Supply Company, thanks to the loyalty of his many customers. In his spare time he started rounding up grocery carts for the Hen House in the Prairie Village Shopping Center. In 2003, he proudly became an official TEAM MEMBER of the Village Hen House. He loved to help people take their groceries out to their cars and did so until the need of a knee replacement forced him to take a leave of absence this past Spring. Even in his extreme pain, after work and on weekends, rain or shine, he would round up grocery carts and transport Hen House donated baked goods and goods he purchased to the Village Church Food Pantry until the day before his knee surgery. Wendell joined The Village Presbyterian Church in December, 2004, where he regularly attended Sunday Services and Wednesday night dinners. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Anne; son, Kevin and wife Sara, grandchildren Hadley and Jay Kombrink; daughter, Krista Polaschek, and husband John, grandchildren Tessa, Karen, Brian and Jeff; son, Kyle and wife Doreen, grandchildren Sam and Ryan Kombrink, Matt and Sam Pierzynski. Brother, Keith Kombrink and family. Many Wiard family cousins and so many dear friends. Always a kind and generous man, he loved helping those less fortunate, he always had a smile on his face and his own brand of humor. Poppie, thank you for being a loving and wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. You will be missed, but your memory will live strong in our hearts forever. Many thanks to all of those at the Kansas City Hospice House who gave great care and kept him comfortable during his brief stay. A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, July 14th at 2:00 p.m. at Village Presbyterian Church, 67th and Mission Road, a reception will follow in the Parlor. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bob and Shirley Meneilly Center for Mission, formerly known as the Village Church Food Pantry and Clothes Closet.