Wilbern “Bud” Clarence Rinke

Funeral services for Wilbern “Bud” Clarence Rinke, 79, Lawrence, KS, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 30, 2021, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence with a visitation starting at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, KS with military honors. Wilbern passed away on Friday, December 24, 2021, at Meadowbrook Nursing and Rehab in Gardner, KS.

Bud was born on October 22, 1942, in Altus, AR, the son of Henry and Rose (Eveld) Rinke.

Bud enlisted as an Airman First Class in the United States Air Force from 1960-1967; serving in Viet Nam. He was stationed at Glasgow Air Force Base in Glasgow, MT. Here he met and married Effie Daniels on November 24, 1962. She survives him and lives in Baldwin City, KS.

Bud never met a stranger and enjoyed visiting with his friends and family. He had a very dry but witty sense of humor. He always enjoyed a good practical joke, and his little smirk and wink will be greatly missed. He was a devoted father, and he was very passionate about his dogs, Petey and Laddie. Over the years he enjoyed fishing, garage sales, and going to the casino.

Survivors include his children, Kenneth J. Rinke (Darrelynn), Linda Royals (Raymond), Katherine Stapleton (Gaines Howell), sisters, Beatrice Seymour, Bernice Simpson (Chuck), Emmeline Dahlem (Max Kirby), nine grandchildren, Jason (Desiree) and Levi Rider, Melissa and Cody Rinke, Kayla and Kelsey Stapleton, James (Maria) and Sarah Royals, Michelle Pinkelman, and eleven great-grandchildren.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Rosemary Lamb, brothers, Clarence, Eugene, Richard Rinke, and brothers-in-law, Dick Seymour, Donald Lamb, Leo Dahlem, and sisters-in-law, Pat Rinke, and Agnes Rinke.

Memorial contributions may be made in Wilbern’s name to The Lawrence Humane Society and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.