Kenneth E. Schoen

Kenneth “Kenny” Eugene Schoen, 81, of Washington, Kansas, passed away on December 27, 2022 at the Hanover Hospital in Hanover, Kansas. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday, January 2, 2023 at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Washington. Burial will be in the Washington City Cemetery. Kenny was born on September 22, 1941 in Diller, Nebraska, to Herman Henry and Catherine Sophia (Fanders) Schoen. He was the sixth of eight children. Kenny attended grade school in Nebraska and Kansas, and graduated from Washington High School in 1960. On June 3, 1962, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane Surratt at the First Baptist Church in Washington, Kansas. They made their home in Washington, where Kenny was employed at Boogaart’s Super Market. He became the store manager and in 1978 opted to purchase the store, renaming it Schoen’s Market. Kenny and his wife also owned and operated a greenhouse and floral shop, Green Valley Floral, which was sold when they moved from town to the farm. The farm was Kenny’s slice of heaven on earth. He enjoyed planting the crops and watching them sprout, and he took pleasure in tending his cattle. Though Kenny had retired from the grocery business in 2011, he continued to be active on the farm. Kenny enjoyed the outdoors. Anytime he could find something to do outside, he did! Over the years, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, bee keeping, gardening, bird watching and picking fruit from his orchard. Kenny was a “jack of all trades”, as he had the ability to build or fix just about anything. He often put his skills as a mechanic, woodworker, welder, electrician and plumber (probably his least favorite) to use around the house and farm. Whatever he was working on, there was usually music playing, and sometime quite loudly! Kenny was also artistic, taking photographs and painting pictures for his own pleasure. In his later years, he enjoyed cheering on the KC Chiefs and the KC Royals from his recliner. Kenny was kind-hearted and would quietly provide help where it was needed. He was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Washington and thoroughly enjoyed sitting at the men’s table to swap stories during fellowship after the church service. He also assisted with the Harvester’s food distribution in his retirement. He absolutely loved his family. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. The grandchildren learned many valuable lessons (and maybe a few new words) on the farm with grandpa. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Gayle and Danny Schoen; his sisters, Geraldine Kozak, Arlene McCarty, and Dixie Jones; his sister-in-law, Ann Schoen; his brothers-in-law, Jesse Kozak, William McCarty, Glen Howland and Elwood Jones. Kenny is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Jane; daughters, Christina (Mark) Uhlik and LeAnne (Jeff) Dankenbring; and a son, Jeremy (Deanna) Schoen; grandchildren, Cade (Rebecca) Uhlik, Gavin Uhlik, Lucas Dankenbring, Jacob Dankenbring, Katheryn McVay, and Hendrix Schoen; and three great-grandchildren; sister, Shirrolyn Howland; and brother, Gary (Patricia) Schoen. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated at a later date. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. Link to Video of Kenny Schoen's Funeral To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth E. Schoen, please visit our flower store.