Edwin Fred Lenkner

EDWIN FRED LENKER PRATT, KS - Edwin Fred Lenkner, 96, died June 7, 2023 at Pratt Regional Medical Center. Ed was born February 23, 1927. His parents, Johann 'Fritz' and Margaret (Lang) Lenkner, were young immigrants from neighboring villages in Germany. Each had one sibling in the United States-Fritz's brother married Margaret's sister-but otherwise, their entire extended family was in Germany. Ed was their first child and was born in the family farmhouse southeast of Coats, Kansas. Ed was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Natrona. He walked or rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse for his early grades and then attended Coats Schools, graduating in 1944. On August 8, 1948, Ed married Marian Pipkin at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Natrona. Shortly thereafter, Ed and Marian moved into a converted one-room schoolhouse that had been relocated to sit 30 feet east of Ed's parents' house. Ed and Marian raised their two children, Edwin D. and Linda, in that home, and they lived together there throughout 57 years of marriage. Marian died in 2005. From a very young age, Ed worked alongside his father on the farm. They raised cattle and sheep and grew wheat and sorghum. Over the years, the operation grew and became more complex. Fritz died in 1970, and Ed remained active on the farm as his son and a grandson, Darrin Lenkner, took on more responsibility. Ed worked hard, helped neighbors, and served his community. He was the longtime Treasurer of McAdoo Township in Barber County and was involved in the Kansas Livestock Association and Kansas Farm Bureau, among other organizations. Throughout his life, Ed was active as a member of Our Savior and St. Paul Lutheran churches, including serving in leadership roles in both congregations. In 2018-after 91 years on the farm-Ed moved to Parkwood Village in Pratt. He lived comfortably there until a hospital stay in the week prior to his death. Ed is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Edwin D. and Deana Lenkner, of Coats; his daughter, Linda Emrick of Hutchinson; four grandsons and their families: Sgt. Maj. Jeremy Emrick (Carolyn Williams) and Liam, Ethan, Evelina (Patrick) and Diego, of El Paso, Texas; Travis Lenkner (Erin Delaney) and Jack and Greta, of Chicago, Illinois; Jeffrey Emrick of Hutchinson, Kansas; and Darrin Lenkner (Jenna) and Cooper, Coby, and Briggs of Pratt; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and other extended family members, including in his parents' hometowns in southern Germany. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife; his sisters, Lucille Doubek and Anita Burrows, and their husbands; an infant brother, Lee George; and close cousins Walter Lenkner and Helen Selsor. Visitation will be Monday, June 12, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Natrona, with Rev. Michael Schotte presiding. Burial will follow at Coats Cemetery, Coats. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the Pratt Health Foundation, in care of Larrison Mortuary.