Kenneth P. McNeel Sr.

Kenneth P. McNeel Sr.

Kenneth Parker McNeel, Sr., 85, of Warrensburg, passed away Jan. 21, 2016.

Kenny was born Aug. 9, 1930, to Ernest Lee McNeel and Ruth Elizabeth (Browning) McNeel, farmers in the Warrensburg area.

Kenny is survived by three children from his marriage to Jo Ann Wolch; Susan (Douglas) Thornton, Kenneth Parker McNeel Jr. and wife, Stella, and Kelley Good and husband, Joe; and grandchildren, Allayne and Allison Thornton, Garrett Good, Mason Good and wife, Kara, and Natalie and Marshall Good.

In 1973, Kenny married Shirley (Stafford) Reynolds. He is survived by Shirley McNeel; two stepchildren, Leslie (Reynolds) Bayless and Kelly Ann Reynolds (Toney) Weeks; two grandchildren, Tucker Bayless and wife, Nicholle, and Amy Turney and husband, Jarret; and three great-grandchildren, Aaron Bayless, Adarren Breuil and Jarentt Breuil.

He was preceded in death by his parents; all of his siblings, Gordon Lee McNeel, William Grover McNeel, Mary Wilma (McNeel) Hunter, Georgia Fae (McNeel) Husong and Ray Clinton McNeel; and his grandson, Grant Parker Good.

Kenny grew up in Kansas City, attending Westport High School and the Kansas City Junior College, while working for Safeway Food Stores. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War in 1951 and was honorably discharged in 1955 at the rank of staff sergeant. Returning to work for Safeway Foods, he became a manager at the Safeway store in Warrensburg in 1955. In 1960, he became partners in Bi-Lo Markets. He would eventually become the owner until he retired in November 1998.

Kenny was initiated into the Warrensburg Elks Lodge 673 in November 1963, and was appointed Esquire of the Lodge from 1965-1966. In 1969, he was elected and served as exalted ruler of Lodge 673 and was also appointed to the Missouri Elks National Foundation Committee, working to bring Missouri from 41st place in the nation to 21st for donations. He was appointed district deputy grand exalted ruler for the Southwest District 1971-1972. He was elected vice president of the Elks Southwest District in 1975, a position in which he served four consecutive years. From 1982 to 1983, he was president of the Missouri Elks Association. In 1993, Kenny was appointed as Missouri Elks coordinator to the Elks National Home. He was also a member of Grand Lodge Activities and State Association Committee, Area Five.

Being active in community affairs, Kenny received many awards. He was Fleming Corporation’s Missouri Retail Grocer of the Year in 1990. The Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph awarded him the Bishop Sullivan Award in 1997. In 1998, he received the Rotary Foundation’s Paul Harris Fellow, and the University of Central Missouri awarded him the Distinguished Service Award in 1999. Because of the splendid contributions he continually made toward helping people in need as well as his solid support of the Warrensburg community, he made a difference.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Elks National Foundation Scholarship and can be left in care of The Elks Warrensburg Lodge 673, 822 E. Young, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg.

The family will hold a private service at a later date.

(Paid Obituary)