Dave Winegardner

(From Fohn Funeral Home)

David Lawrence Winegardner passed away on November 28, 2022.
Dave was born April 16, 1947, in Statesboro, Georgia and moved at a young age to Atchison, Kansas when his father accepted employment at the local radio station. 

Dave graduated from Atchison High School in 1965 after excelling as a student and participating in multiple school groups. He captured two Kansas High School State Championships – the first in 2-person team debate and the other for Individual Speech.

After high school, Dave attended Wichita State University one year then transferred to the University of Kansas in Lawrence and became a lifelong Jayhawk. He graduated from the School of Journalism in 1970.

It was at KU where Dave began his long and fulfilling broadcast radio career. He worked several semesters on the student-run station KUOK while pursuing his degree. Even before graduation, he began work at WREN in Topeka. After gaining invaluable industry experience at stations in Kansas and Texas, Dave purchased radio station KBTN in Neosho, Missouri in 1974 and later built a powerful FM sister station in addition to the original AM.

He also owned a third station in Pittsburg, Kansas. Dave eventually sold all the stations by 2003. During his years in Neosho, Dave received numerous awards and accolades for service to his community including Citizen of the Year in 2006. He served as President of the Neosho R-V School District's Charitable Foundation and was Cofounder of the Newton County Food Basket Brigade. 

In 2014 he was inducted into the Missouri Southern State University Media Hall of Fame. He truly loved his work in broadcasting. After selling the stations, Dave accepted the Vice President of Marketing position at Community Bank & Trust in Neosho where he worked until retirement in 2014.

Dave married Cheryl Rabe in 1991 and together they built a beautiful life together. They both loved nature, boating, reading, live theater and traveling. And travel they did -- all over Europe, China, Russia, South America, Iceland and many other places. Together, they built two homes - the first on beautiful Indian Creek near Neosho where they would canoe and swim every possible weekend. 20 years later, they then built on the waterfront at Table Rock Lake. With their beloved pontoon boat, they sailed to every corner of the lake. Dave had a saying; "If you are lucky enough to live on the lake, you
are lucky enough." He truly felt that way.

Dave was a kind, thoughtful and intelligent man. A neighbor wrote: "A wise man once said we are all diminished by the loss of one man. And if this is so, then we are all diminished a great deal by the loss of Dave".

He is preceded in death by his parents Lawrence & Barbara Branham Winegardner.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl of Golden, his son, Matt of Columbia, MO, his brother Philip and wife Patricia of Overland Park, KS and his stepdaughters Laura Cordray and Ellen Lewis of Tulsa, OK.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 7, at 11:30 a.m.at The All Faith Methodist Church, 29497 State Highway 86 in Eagle Rock MO. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Crowder Community College in his name.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville.