Donald Glen Lankard

Donald G. Lankard, age 76, of Garnett, Kansas, died on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at his home in Garnett. He was born on March 18, 1932, at Garnett, Kansas, the son of Jasper and Minnie (Milliman) Lankard. He attended Garnett High School for 3 years. He later earned his GED in 1973. After high school he worked on pipelines in Pennsylvania. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in January of 1952, serving one year in Korea, 327 of those days were spent in active combat duty, and he received three Purple Hearts before being honorably discharged in October 23, 1953. Following the service, he returned to pipeline work in Pennsylvania. He moved to Kansas in 1954. Don married Hilda Rockers on November 25, 1954, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Scipio, Kansas. This union was blessed with five children. He worked for Jerry Kent in the oil fields and for various construction companies in the area before working as a truck driver for 14 years for AnCo Cheese. Don then went to work for Gates Rubber for 15 years, retiring in 1994. He was a life member of the VFW and American Legion of Garnett. He enjoyed traveling, gambling, fishing, mushroom hunting, making wine, gardening, and story telling, entertaining and dancing. Don was well known for his practical jokes. He also loved to read, but his greatest joy was his grandchildren. Don was baptized by Father Tony Blaufuss on January 3, 2009. Don was preceded in death by his parents; his son Donnie Lankard on January 11, 1986; four brothers, Leonard, Gene, Dick and Sam Lankard; and one sister, Mary Hunsaker. He is survived by his wife, Hilda Lankard, of the home; four daughters, Glenda Tastove and husband Pat of Garnett, Kansas; Janet Stocks and husband Bill of Paola, Kansas; Nancy Feuerborn of Linwood, Kansas; Helen Watt and husband Kim of Welda, Kansas; three brothers, Bob Lankard of Meadeville, Pennsylvania; Bill Lankard of Mulvane, Kansas; Jim Lankard of Garnett, Kansas; two sisters, Ruth Hatch of Eldon, Missouri; Jeanette Hiatt of Garnett, Kansas; four grandchildren, Beth Wylie of Calhoun, Missouri, Cara Feuerborn of Linwood, Kansas, Abraham Watt of Paola, Kansas, and Jacob Watt of Welda, Kansas; one great grandson, Sam Wylie of Calhoun, Missouri; many nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Memorial services will be held at 1:30 PM on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Inurnment will follow in the Holy Angels Cemetery, Garnett. The family will greet friends from 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Friday evening, January 16, 2009 at the Garnett VFW. Memorial contributions may be made to either the American Legion, VFW, or to Friends of the Library and sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .