Kenneth M. Wilke

Kenneth Malcolm Wilke was born in Topeka, Kansas, on November 17, 1943, the only child of W. Kenneth Wilke and Nancy Rhea Howell Wilke. Ken was nearly 2 years old before he met his father, because he was a Captain in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving as an aide-de-campe to a General in an Anti-Aircraft unit. During this time, Ken and his mother lived with her parents, Malcolm and Cora Cofer Howell.

After graduating from Topeka High School in 1961, he attended the University of Kansas where he was member of the Acacia fraternity, serving as treasurer and Rush Chairman, for a time. He was a varsity bowler and represented KU in both bowling and billiards tournaments. He graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics.

Ken was a second-generation law student at Washburn University School of Law. He graduated with his Juris Doctor on June 2, 1968, and he was admitted to the Kansas Bar and Federal District of Kansas on June 27, 1968. He was a member of the Kansas Bar Association and the Topeka Bar Association. In 2018, he received a certificate in honor for 50 years of service as an Attorney and Counselor at Law from the Kansas Bar Association.

Ken initially joined his father practicing law at the Law Offices of W. Kenneth Wilke, Fred S. Jackson, Douglas C. Richards, & Fred W. Rausch, Jr. After his father passed away, Ken was a board member and officer of the Kansas Homestead Rural Rehabilitation Corporation as was his father before him. In 1973, he began working at the Kansas Board of Agriculture, where he served as Chief Counsel from 1978 until 1995. Later, he was an Assistant Revisor when he joined the Revisor of Statutes Office in the Capitol Building where he worked from 1998 to 2014. When he retired, the Kansas Senate honored him with a resolution, S. Res. 1840.

As a young man, he enjoyed bowling and played in a league on Tuesday nights. He was a member of the Elk Lodge and served as Exalted Ruler for a year. The local Elk Lodge had a three-cushioned billiards table, and he often would go play during his lunch hour.

He loved playing chess, and was known by some as “Ming the Merciless.” He could often be found reading chess strategy books, yes, seriously. He had a chess group that met monthly for about 40 years. The 6 man group hosted twice yearly and Ken was fortunate to have been able to host his last chess party 15 days before he passed. He also went to Classic Bean in Fairlawn Plaza on Saturday afternoons to play with his chess buddies and any others who showed interest.

Ken was a recreational mathematician, preferring Number Theory. For 30 years, he was the problem editor for The Pentagon, the Kappa Mu Epsilon’s Mathematics Honor Society Journal. Additionally, he tutored his children, step-children and children of friends helping with high school algebra and college algebra. He taught college algebra as an adjunct professor for a couple of semesters from 1971 to 1973 and another semester in 2001 at Washburn University. After his retirement, he tutored at Topeka West High School’s after-school homework program.

On August 21, 1966, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Josephine Penn. To this union was born a daughter, Heather and a son, Lance. Marilyn passed away on May 22, 1985.

On June 4, 1988, he was united in marriage to Janet Christine Loux Schwinn. She brought Matthew & Susan to join their blended family. She also had two older sons, Andrew & Fred.

Ken and Janet enjoyed 38 years of marriage before Ken passed. They enjoyed riverboat cruises domestically and in Europe and made several trips “across the pond.” Together they loved to watch British television.

Anyone who knew Ken could tell you that he had a unique sense of humor. He could not help but ply his family and friends with puns, sometimes receiving groans. For colleagues, he was known to write limericks in the form of a roast, especially for retirements. He loved to smoke meat for his friends and family who were grateful recipients. He was also a connoisseur of great single malt Scotch.

He was President of the Sterling Estates Home Owners’ Association from 2014 until he passed on June 23, 2026, from colon cancer.

Ken was predeceased by his parents and his first wife Marilyn. He is survived by his wife Janet, daughter Heather, son Lance; step-children, Susan Schwinn, Matthew Schwinn, Andrew Schwinn (Michelle Doud); step-grandchildren Ryan, David, Victoria, Cherokee, Dustin; 8 step-great grandchildren, and several cousins. He will be missed by all.

Visitation at 1:00 pm, Celebration of Life at 2:00 pm on July 10, 2026, at Penwell Gabel, 10th & Lane, Topeka, Kansas. 

The celebration of life will be live-streamed and will begin 15 minutes before service time. To register to watch the live stream, please click the following link: Kenneth Wilke Live Stream Link

A private inurnment will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka, KS at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Midland Hospice, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606 or KTWU-PBS, 1901 SW Jewell Avenue, Topeka, KS 66621, would be appreciated.

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