F. Wayne Kissinger

Frederick Wayne Kissinger was born January 19, 1947 to Eleanor (Seright) and Frederick Kissinger and passed from his earthly life, Saturday, November 21, 2020 at the age of 73 surrounded by his family. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday, November 30, 2020 at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa. Family will meet with friends 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M., Friday, November 27, 2020, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. As a child, Wayne attended Green Dell, a one-room country school then went on to graduate from Ottawa High School with the class of 1964. He attended Hutchison Junior College, then after a stint in the Navy Reserve, he returned to attend Emporia State Teacher’s College. He married Donna Gross, with whom he shares their three children, Devon and Marc Kissinger, and Jennifer Kissinger Eden. They later divorced. On July 4, 2004, he was married to Velma Hanson who survives at the home. Wayne had a passion for service, beginning as a firefighter, then serving with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department for many years wearing many different “hats” from deputy to jail supervisor. He took his service duties very solemnly, whether it was comforting families whose homes were lost in fires to assisting in investigations to lending a shoulder to lean on. He retired from service after 22 years. After retirement from the Sheriff’s Department, he worked part time for several years for Dengel and Son Mortuary, assisting with services. And then later worked several years for American Eagle until he retired. He was not all work and no play. He learned to line dance, and found that he enjoyed it a lot, but Wayne loved to fish and camp and fish some more, and then he needed a boat to fish some more. He said that when he was on the lake with a fishing rod, he had a front row seat with God, and that was where he found the most peace. Wayne elected to take on his Lord in baptism at the Church of Christ, establishing his relationship with God on a personal scale in 1957. Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Eleanor Kissinger, and grandson, Blake Eden. He is survived by his wife, Velma, of the home; sons, Devon (Paula) and Dr Marc (Denise) of Lawrence, and daughter Jennifer Eden (Tim) of DeLand, Florida; step children, Angela Harrison (Tracy Robertson), Mark Hanson (Tyra) both of Emporia, Howard Hanson of Ottawa; grandsons, Brandon, Cole and Caleb Kissinger, Christopher and Ashton Eden and one great-granddaughter, twelve step grandchildren and ten step great grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters, Diana Kay (Dan) of Galena, MO, Barbee Savage (Fred) of Ottawa, Carolyn Horne (Dan) of Vassar, and Lori Hazen (Greg) of Ottawa, and one brother, Lowell (Lisa) of Hogansville, GA, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to Franklin County Sheriff Foundation c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Wayne’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com