Kenneth R. Buyle

It has been said that children get their first glimpse of the love of God the Father through their earthly father. During his lifetime, Ken loved passionately, constantly, unconditionally and sacrificially. If the love experienced by the children of Kenneth R. Buyle is merely a glimpse, God's love must be truly incomprehensible. Ken passed away on January 10, 2026, at the age of 88 after a battle with leukemia.
His first loves were his faith and his family. Ken held true to his Catholic faith until the end, running the race with devotion and endurance. A graduate of Guardian Angels grade school and Servite High School in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, he carried his faith into his adult life. For the past fifty years, he served Seven Dolors parish in many different capacities, including serving as a Parish Council member, serving as a Eucharistic minister and lector, serving as the parish counselor, teaching CCD, participating in the Knights of Columbus, and playing the trumpet in the church choir. He passed on his faith to his children, grandchildren and many others he encountered along his journey. He shared his faith with his bride of sixty-seven years and the love of his life, Kathy. Together, they built a family of six children and their spouses, Deb Shepek (Steve), Ray Buyle (Karen), Suzy Auten (Robert), Daniel Buyle (Allison), Mark Buyle (Kristy) and Katie Pope (Ted). He loved his children's spouses as he loved his children. One of his great sadnesses was the death of his son Daniel four years ago. His legacy includes eighteen grandchildren who he loved dearly, and thirty-three great-grandchildren (with three more on the way). Ken and Kathy made homes for their family in Hawaii, Kentucky, Tennessee, California, Panama, Michigan, Indiana, New Jersey and Kansas. Although the locations changed, the love of family was constant. A lifelong learner, Ken passed along to his family the importance of education, knowledge and awareness of world events. This was never more evident than when he and Kathy were honored as the 2021 K-State Family of the Year in 2021 during Family Weekend, along with family members who have earned over thirty K-State degrees. In addition to his beloved children, grandchildren and great-children, Ken is survived by his brother, Jon (Tim), and his sister-in-law, Joan. He was preceded in death by his son, Daniel, his parents, Ray and Virginia Buyle, his sister, Rayna Buyle, and his brother, Valere Buyle.
His second love was his country, which he served valiantly for twenty-four years in the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Ken enlisted at age nineteen with the rank of Private First Class. Always seeking to grow, Ken entered and graduated from Officer Candidate School with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Ken served in the infantry during much of his time in the Army, including as a member of the elite 8th Special Forces Group - Airborne (Green Berets) and the 101st Airborne Division (the "Screaming Eagles"). Ken served in numerous combat roles, including serving as Headquarters Company Commander, 3rd Battalion (Airborne) 506th Infantry, during the Vietnam War. On August 24, 1968, Captain Buyle was awarded the Bronze Star (for Valor ) by the direction of the President of the United States for heroism in ground combat against a hostile enemy force during a mortar attack at Phan Thiet Airstrip in Vietnam on February 25, 1968. Ken moved the family to Manhattan in 1973, when he was stationed at Ft. Riley. He served as the Adjutant General of the 1st Infantry Division ("Big Red One") at Ft. Riley from 1977 until his retirement in 1979. Some of Ken's closest lifelong friends were the brave men he served alongside in the Army. His military career took him to many places across the globe, including Panama, Chile, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia, Germany. His foreign travels only made him love his country even more. After Ken retired from the Army, he began a career at K-State, acting as the accountant for the Division of Biology and the Director of the Division's BioServe collaboration with NASA. His retirement job lasted thirty-five years, finally retiring a second time at age seventy-seven.
His third love was his neighbor. Ken's compassion and empathy led him to volunteer in a myriad of ways. Not surprisingly, his volunteer efforts largely mirrored his other two great loves. He and Kathy served as lead couples on countless Engaged Encounter retreats through the church to help prepare engaged couples to enter into the sacrament of marriage, as well as SEARCH retreats to help young people encounter Christ. Ken sponsored a number of candidates in the church's RCIA program helping them prepare to enter the church. Ken played taps on the bugle at Veterans' funerals and participated regularly in Taps Across America to honor fallen veterans on Memorial Day. For twenty years, Ken volunteered with the Good Shepherd Hospice House, coordinating pinning ceremonies for veterans and giving folks one last ride in a convertible.
It is impossible in a few words to sum up eighty-eight years. Ken had many other loves, not the least of which was his love of music, especially, Frank Sinatra, jazz, show tunes, and road-trip sing-along songs. His family and friends are saddened by his passing, but have great hope that he is now with the one whose boundless love Ken's life reflected.
There will be a visitation on Thursday, January 15th starting at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Wake Service and Rosary starting at 7:30 p.m., at Seven Dolors Catholic Church, 221 Juliette Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 16th at Seven Dolors Catholic Church, followed by a luncheon. Burial at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery in Manhattan, Kansas will be held at 11:00a.m. Tuesday January 20, 2026.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the following causes that were important to Ken: Seven Dolors Catholic Church or the Ray and Karen Buyle Scholarship (through the K-State Foundation). Contributions can be made either directly to the charity or through Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com