Walter E. Schoen, 90, passed away June 12, 2023.
Born on March 10, 1933, in Cawker City, Kansas, Walter was the son of Eldon and Sinnie (Folger) Schoen. He was raised on the family farm north of Cawker and attended Chandler Grade School and Cawker City Baptist Church where he was baptized as a young man. Walter graduated from Downs High School in 1951 and then attended Kansas State University (KSU) where he graduated with a degree in Animal Science and from the Air Force ROTC program.
During his senior year at KSU, a hometown girl caught his eye. Walter and Janette Myers were married on April 22, 1956, and promptly moved straight to Texas for his Flight School. Walter’s active-duty assignment was Geiger Air Force base near Spokane, Washington. He was a combat rated all-weather interceptor jet fighter pilot. In 1958, Walter was the first Jet Fighter Pilot to successfully eject from an F-102 and survive.
Expecting the birth of their third daughter, Walter and Jan made the decision to return to farming. Walter was a farmer and rancher, once again. Together, he and Jan raised the “three D’s on the farm.” Many memories were made between father and daughters as they worked hogs and cattle, carried irrigation pipe, chopped thistle, fixed fences, loaded hay bales, and harvested wheat and corn. The lack of sons did not deter Walter from teaching his daughters how to work hard at anything they did. He rewarded hard work with occasional trips to town for French fries and malts. He particularly loved purebred Herefords and named this business “Triple D Herefords.” Walter and Jan were very active in raising their daughters in the church. In later years, Walter learned sign language to translate parts of the church services for several deaf members. Walter and Jan enjoyed their worship at the Dispatch Christian Reformed Church.
Through the years, Walter belonged to various organizations. He was house manager and treasurer for the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity at KSU, Block and Bridle Treasurer, Ag Council Representative, Barnwarmer Commission Chairman, and a member of Collegiate 4-H, Arnold Air Society, Young Republicans, Meats Judging Team, and Little American Royal Commission. He and Jan started the Baptist Mission Church in Cheney, Washington. Walter became a Sunday School Teacher, Baptist Youth Fellowship Sponsor, a Township Treasurer, a church deacon, church trustee, a Masonic member, and proud member of the Kansas Hereford Association, National Cattlemen’s association and the Kansas Livestock Association.
Walter actively farmed for the next 40 years. He was known for his passionate views, quick wit and hard work. It was common for him to challenge young men in town to beat him at one-handed pushups. During the Farm Crisis, he took training at KSU to become a financial farm counselor for Ag Services and helped farmers in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma navigate financial strains.
During his retirement years on the farm, he and Jan enjoyed entertaining others. They looked forward to visits from their daughters, sons-in-law and 10 grandchildren every Labor Day weekend to hunt dove and fish, in the winter to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays and special summer trips.
In 2012, Walter and Jan made the decision to move from the farm to Newton, Kansas to be closer to family. He spent his last years in that area.
Walter is preceded in death by his parents (Eldon and Sinnie Schoen), and his sister and brother-in-law (Geraldine and Keno Stephenson). He is survived by his wife Janette Schoen, his daughters, Deborah Thompson (Steve) of Kansas City, MO, Diane Busenitz (Dwight) of Whitewater, KS, and Doreen (Ted) Alward of Kansas City, MO, and by his ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Dispatch Christian Reformed Church, rural Cawker City. Visitation will be Friday evening, June 30 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in then Prairie Grove Cemetery, Cawker City. Memorials may be given to Heart Choices of Beloit or the church in care of Domoney Funeral Home, PO Box 127, Downs, Kansas 67437.