Skip M. Yowell, 69, died Wednesday, October 14th, 2015 at his home in Saint Peter, Kansas.

He was born in Hays, Kansas, to Harold and Marjorie (Murray) Yowell. He spent his early years in Grainfield, moving to Great Bend at the age of 5.  He started kindergarten at Park Elementary School and graduated from Great Bend High School in 1964.

Skip was an avid hiker and climber, sharing his passion for the outdoors with everyone who crossed his path. In 1967 he co-founded the backpack company JanSport. He strongly believed in the importance of promoting outdoor recreation and environmental responsibility to future generations and worked with many groups including: Boy Scouts of America, Big City Mountaineers and The Outdoor Industry Association. His book, The Hippie Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder & Other Mountains, shares details about his life and adventures.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Marjorie Yowell and a brother Randy Yowell.  Survivors include his wife Winnie Kingsbury of Saint Peter, daughter Quinn Yowell of Tampa, Florida, step-daughter Wesley Kingsbury of Hays, step-son Hunt Kingsbury of Northbrook, Illinois, grandchildren Drew, Madeline, Sabrina, Hunter and Parker, his brother Lindsey Yowell and his wife Lynn Yowell of Chelan, Washington, his sister Diana Crouch and her husband Larry Crouch of Saint Peter and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Skip will be remembered by many names; Husband, Father, Friend, Legend, Founder, Mentor, Adventurer, Athlete, Teller of Tales, Gardener, and Philanthropist.

Please join Skip’s family and friends in celebrating Skip’s life Thursday, October 22nd, 2015 at Prairie Junction in Morland, Kansas at 2:00 p.m.

On November 12th 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Committee invite Skip’s family and friends to join in a celebration in honor of Skip at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, Cheyenne Bottoms, Great Bend, Kansas.

Memorial donations can be made to Big City Mountaineers, Boy Scouts of America or Kansas Wetlands Education Center, Cheyenne Bottoms.

His great beauty was his humanity. You can take a man out of Kansas, but you can’t take the simple beauty of Kansas out of the man. That humanity, that kindness of spirit, was his gift to each of us.