Harlen L. McGinness, 88, of Wichita (formerly of WaKeeney), died March 23, 2016. Harlen was born October 26, 1927, in Lincoln County, Kansas, to Harley and Minnie (Yohe) McGinness. He was the youngest of seven children. He attended Westfall Grade School and graduated from Beverly Rural High School in 1945 with a class of six boys and six girls.

Harlen served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, at the close of World War II. He attended Merritt Business College at Oakland, California. He was an accounting instructor at Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas, where he met his wife Audrey Ann Knutson. They were married on June 10, 1951.

Harlen was an accountant for Harper Construction Company in Great Bend, Kansas. In 1954 he became Office Manager at Western Cooperative Electric in WaKeeney, and in 1969 became General Manager, retiring in 1990.

He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church in WaKeeney for 60 years, where he has served as elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, and church treasurer for several years.  He was Master of the WaKeeney Masonic Lodge #148 AF & AM in 1961.  He was Worthy Patron of WaKeeney Margaret Chapter #149, Order of Eastern Star in 1975; and was Associate Guardian of WaKeeney Job’s Daughters Bethel No. 40. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harley and Minnie; brothers, Thomas (Doris), Robert (Janice), Max (Diane); and sisters, Delores (Fred Borgstadter), Lauretta (Kasper Erickson), and Geneva (Marden Rohrer).

Harlen is survived by his wife, Audrey Ann; daughters, Terri (Tom Smiley) of Kansas City, Kathi (Steve Clavin) of Wichita, and Conni (Terry Steininger) of Salina; grandchildren, Tara Smiley of Fort Scott, Chris (Jill) Clavin of Wichita, Traci Smiley of Kansas City, and Cody (Charla) Steininger of Dodge City; and great-grandchild, Boston Ray Steininger.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, March 29, at the WaKeeney Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Presbyterian Church of WaKeeney. Contributions made to the church may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.schmittfuneral.com.