Donald Frank Kresie

Donald Frank Kresie, 94, passed away Saturday, August 31, 2013 at St. Francis Hospital. He was born at St. Francis Hospital, the son of Frank Henry and Frances Randell Fitzgerald Kresie. Growing up, he lived on a farm near Meriden, Kansas. He graduated from Meriden High School in 1937. In 1941, he graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Business. Donald was an Army veteran of World War II and served over three years in the South Pacific. After completing his military service, he graduated from Washburn Law School with a Juris Doctorate degree. He belonged to the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at the University of Kansas and the Phi Alpha Delta fraternity at Washburn University.

Donald was employed by the State of Kansas for 34 years in the Department of Administration, in the Personnel Division. He was a long time member of the American Polled Hereford Association. He maintained a Registered Hereford herd since 1955 and continued the operation of the family farm with his son near Meriden, Kansas. Donald was an avid tennis player and an accomplished jazz pianist.

Survivors include his wife, Annette (Weissbeck) Kresie, his son, Randall J. Kresie, MD (Debbie Field-Kresie, MD), their children, Scott (Taylor) Kresie and Elizabeth Kresie, who is attending Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He is also survived by his daughter, Karen Kresie Follett (Kevin) of Fort Collins, Colorado and their children, Katie (Danny) Mackey of Seattle, WA; Kelsey (Eli) Schnoor of Kingwood, TX and Kirsten Follett, who is attending the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM.

Memorial graveside services will be held at 10 am Saturday, September 7 at Mount Hope Cemetery. Don will lie in state on Friday at the Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5:30 until 7:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 5375 SW 7th Street, Topeka, KS 66606.