Kenneth Joseph White

Kenneth Joseph "Kenny Joe" White, age 81, passed away at Richmond Healthcare and Rehab in Richmond, Kansas on June 16, 2023.

Kenneth was born on November 8, 1941 in Lebanon, Missouri. He was the oldest of four children born to George Kenneth and Glennis Marie (Edwards) White. Kenneth grew up on a farm outside of Lebanon, Missouri. Following high school Kenneth moved out to California where he met his first wife, Grace Ann Weir, and had four beautiful children. He worked as a firefighter during that time. He later moved to the area outside of Garnett, Kansas and raised three more children with his second wife, Anne Veronica Denton. Ken lived in Garnett for nearly 40 years and he loved the people and the country.

Kenneth was in charge of part of the construction of the Terex 33-19 "Titan" while working for Kaiser Steel in the 1970s. Only one truck of this type was produced, and it was the largest capacity haul truck in the world for 25 years. He spoke fondly of time he spent apprenticed to a blacksmith, and he loved metallurgy. His brother, Paul, also remembers how much he loved to build things- rock crushers, houses, fences, almost anything. He worked as a welder until his retirement, getting up before dawn and keeping a physically rigorous schedule into his 70s.

Kenneth often said that there was nothing he was more proud of than his children. He had regrets, and he readily admitted that he was not a perfect person. He was hard-working and generous, and all of his children have diligently and successfully pursued a variety of careers (culinary, military, logging, law enforcement, education, medicine, and information technology). Every last one of his kids are family-oriented and conscientious about their work and their community- that is what he spoke of with the most gratitude.

Kenneth loved being outside, whether for work or recreation. Kenny had a family farm outside of Garnett for several years where he enjoyed gardening and raising chickens, pigs, and steers for food. Throughout his life he loved fishing and hunting. Kenneth was an avid reader. He particularly enjoyed archaeology, history, poetry, and western fiction though he would pick up and read nearly any genre if he felt that he could learn something. He was commonly heard in conversation asking "Did you know...?"

Kenneth was outgoing and would talk to anyone he met- on the road, in the grocery store, at the gas station, or famously in the hospital waiting room after his daughter Sarah was born, polling people to pick out the best name for his baby girl. Growing up it was hard to go anywhere with him because he was always chatting with the person in front of him about their family, their work, their interests. Kenneth loved telling jokes and sharing stories.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; one brother Dennis White, and two sisters, Virginia White and Carla White.

He is survived by seven children, Michael (Phyllis) White of Camdenton, Missouri, William "Bill" (Julie) White of Clever, Missouri, Kenneth Joseph "Joe" (Lisa) White of Aldrich, Missouri, Stephanie Coleman of Columbia, Missouri, Heather (Aaron) Miller of Draper, Utah, Sarah (Ben) White of Battle Ground, Washington, and Jason (Crystal) White of Garnett, Kansas; one brother Paul (Joan) White of Montreal, Missouri; one paternal aunt, Betty Card, of Sioux City, Iowa; 17 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 11:00 am, on Saturday July 8, 2023 at Feuerborn Funeral Home In Garnett, Kansas. Kenneth's family will greet friends at 12:00 PM, just after the service. Memorial contributions can be made to The City of Garnett Recreation Department For Youth Sports or to the Missouri Department of Conservation programs around the Big Niangua River near where Kenneth grew up and may be left in care of Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, PO BOX 408, Garnett, Kansas 66032. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .