MAIZE — Don Menzer, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend passed away on Sept. 13, 2026, at 82, leaving behind a lifetime of memories and a legacy that will live on through the people who loved him.
Don served in the National Guard from 1966 – 1969 and received a commendation in recognition of exceptional service during the disastrous tornados which occurred at Manhattan and Topeka June 8, 1966.
Don was a proud fourth-degree knight with the Knights of Columbus, embodying the spirit of service helping with events of the council at St. Peter of Clonmel.
Professionally, Don devoted his working life to welding, pipeline construction, inspection and training. He began his career as a journeyman welder in 1967 at a power plant in Great Bend. Joining Kansas Power & Light (KPL) in 1979 as a Transmission Welder until retirement in 2008, other positions included Welding Field Inspector, Supervisor of Training and Technical Trainer throughout the company’s various mergers and acquisitions working throughout Kansas. Don was especially proud of being able to teach others. He trained and certified welders and helped pass along the knowledge he had gained through years of experience. He understood that a person’s knowledge becomes even more valuable when it is shared with others. Many people who worked alongside him or learned from him carried a piece of his experience with them throughout their own careers. Don retired from KPL / ONEOK after 29 years of excellent service.
Retirement didn’t last long. As a highly respected welding inspector Don was recruited as a Chief Pipeline Inspector to work on some of the industry’s most significant pipeline construction and energy projects in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, Montana and North Dakota for ExxonMobil, Tallgrass Energy Partners to name a few.
To his family he was much more than his accomplishments or titles he carried throughout his long and distinguished career. He was the person people could count on, the one who knew how to fix things, solve problems, and lend a helping hand when someone needed it. He was a man who believed in hard work, keeping his word and taking pride in a job well done.
Don lived the life he and his wife established surrounded by the things he enjoyed – horses, wide open country, and his ever-faithful dogs. He found great peace in the beauty of the land during their time in the country. Time permitting, he enjoyed fishing, breakfast and coffee with friends and watching his favorite football teams and golfers.
He will be remembered for the way he loved his family, the pride he took in the people around him, and the example he set through a lifetime of perseverance. He showed those who knew him the importance of hard work, doing things right, keeping your word, and never being afraid to learn something new or teach someone else what you know.
He leaves behind his wife, Marcia Menzer of 36 years, Maize, Kan.; daughters, Cynthia Menzer of Argyle, Texas, Michelle Oesterreicher and her husband Scott of McKinney, Texas; and granddaughters, Nicole, Kaitlin and Julia Oesterreicher; and friends who will miss him deeply. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Sr. and Helen J. Menzer; and brother, Charles Jr. Menzer.
Don will be remembered for his generous spirit and the love he shared with his family and friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Visitation will be 4 – 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, at Downing & Lahey West Chapel, 10515 W. Maple St. Wichita, KS. Graveside service will be on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Resurrection Cemetery, 1040 N Maize Rd., Wichita, KS. To honor Don’s love for animals, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside Wichita, KS 67219 or the American Heart Association, 5800 Foxridge Dr. Mission, KS 66202.
Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 19, 2026
