Name of Deceased: Wendell M. Doonan Age: 91
Wendell M. Doonan, 91, died April 27, 2014 at Eckstein Center – Hospice of the Valley, Scottsdale, Arizona. He was born February 27, 1923 at Great Bend, Kansas the son of Clarence Cecil & Florence Roberta (Bowyer) Doonan. He married Wanda Lee Wolf January 31, 1944 at Hoisington, Kansas. She died October 19, 1980. He then married Mary Jane (Stricker) Reich March 12, 1983 at Great Bend, Kansas.
A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mr. Doonan founded Doonan Truck and Equipment in 1947, an Oliver farm equipment dealership which was housed in a small building north of Great Bend on Highway 281. In 1950 the dealership was moved to north Main Street and a service station added. Four years later the GMC Truck franchise was secured and another move was made to a new building on Main Street. In 1961 the dealership moved to 10th Street and the 281 By-pass as a result of the new building burning. The Peterbilt truck line was added in 1964. A new facility at the Highway 56 and 156 junction was opened in 1970 due to increased business where the present-day dealership is located. The Doonan Trailer facility was added in 1974 where Doonan’s own design of grain trailers, oilfield beds, pressure tanks, and flatbed and drop-deck trailers were manufactured. Mr. Doonan eventually had satellite dealerships in Wichita, Liberal, Garden City, and Grand Island, Neb. Those, with the exception of Great Bend and Wichita have all been sold and the two remaining dealerships are owned and operated by his son, Kenny Doonan.
Mr. Doonan was a member of First United Methodist Church, Lions Club, A. F. & A. M. Masonic Lodge #15, and Isis Shrine, all of Great Bend; and Ascension Lutheran Church and ROMEOs at Ascension Lutheran Church , Paradise Valley, Ariz.
Mr. Doonan is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Doonan, of the home; three sons: Maurice Doonan of Kingman, Kan., Kenny Doonan and his wife Sue of Wichita, Kan., and Warren Doonan and his wife Jeanne of Hoisington, Kan.; one sister: Evelyn Graham of Washington; one sister-in-law, Lila Doonan; nine grandchildren: Kelly Husher and her husband Steve, Dan Doonan and wife Debbie, Brian Doonan and his wife Shannon, Brent Doonan, Jennifer Pece and her husband Steve, Aaron Doonan and his wife Gina, Jarrod Doonan and his wife Lyndsay, Chelsea Coon and her husband Chris, and Darren Doonan and his wife Sabrina; twelve great-grandchildren: Madison Husher, Jacob Husher, Cassidy Husher, Quin Doonan, Brock Doonan, Preston Doonan, Ava Doonan, Jaxson Doonan, Liam Doonan, Jacey Doonan, Taetym Doonan, and Jovie Coon; one step-son: Tim Reich; one step-daughter: Jody Wise and her husband John; and three step-grandchildren: Lindsay Reich, Chandler Reich, and Alex Wise. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Dorothy Roberta Doonan; one step-son, Brian Reich; two brothers, Robert Doonan and Willard Doonan; and one sister, Margarite McAnulla.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 2, 2014 at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend with The Reverend Judy Stricker officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, Kansas. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., family will receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 1, 2014 at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to First United Methodist Church or Shrine Travel Fund or Ascencion Lutheran Church, in care of Bryant Funeral Home
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
Arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, Kansas 67530