Donald Powell Schnacke

Donald Powell Schnacke, 84, was called home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 21, 2012, with family and his dog Pepper by his side.

The son of Austin and Esther Schnacke, Don was born in Topeka on October 2, 1927, and raised with three brothers, Austin Jr., Philip, and Richard, all of whom preceded him in death. In 1951 he married his beloved wife, Marjorie Crane Schnacke, and remained devoted to her until her death in 2005. He is survived by his two sons, J. Greg Schnacke (Layla) and Tim Schnacke (Denise), and two grandchildren, Kent T. and Anne W. Schnacke, all from Colorado.

Don was one of the last of the so-called "Greatest Generation," who survived the Great Depression and fought in World War II. Immediately after graduation from Topeka High School, at only 17 years of age, he obtained his parent's permission to join the United States Marine Corps, and he served in the First Marine Division in Guam and China. His lifelong dedication to the Marines is legendary to those who continue to celebrate the Corps' values and history. After the war, he obtained an engineering degree from Oklahoma State University, and later he received his law degree from Washburn University.

Don worked as an engineer first with the United States Department of Defense and the Phillips Petroleum Company, and then for many years with the firm of Van Doren, Hazard, Stallings, and Schnacke in Topeka. As a lawyer, he worked in private practice for his father-in-law, A. Harry Crane, and in his later years started his own practice representing energy clients with state and local government needs. Professionally, he is perhaps best known for decades of service as Executive Vice President of the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association. As a leader in both the engineering and oil and gas fields, Don served with distinction as State Manager for the Kansas Engineering Society, as National Chairman of the Professional Engineers in Private Practice, as a Director of Kansas, Inc. (appointed by three different Kansas Governors), as President of the Petroleum Industry of Kansas, Inc., as a Member of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (appointed by six different Kansas Governors), as a Trustee of the University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc., as a Board Member of the KU's Tertiary Oil Recovery Project, as President of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, as Chairman of Fairlawn Plaza State Bank, and as President of the South Topeka Rotary Club.

Don was also active in local, state, and national politics, having served as Chairman of the Shawnee County Republican Central Committee as well as State Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party and member of the National Republican Committee. He was honored to give a presidential nominating speech for "favorite son" U.S. Senator Frank Carlson on national television at the 1968 Convention in Miami Florida. Using the Presidential Prayer Breakfast as an example, Don and others helped Governor John Anderson, Jr., launch the Kansas Prayer Breakfast in 1961, an event that has been held every year since.

Don was a committed Christian, and he was deeply moved to help humanity in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. His faith gave him optimism, boundless energy, and refreshing zeal for life in this world. His love, compassion, and jovial generosity to others, even to those he did not know, was remarkable and is remembered fondly even as he is called home. He was an Elder and a Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Topeka, and his life will be celebrated there on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may also be made to that church, located at 817 SW Harrison Street, Topeka, Kansas, 66612. Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel is assisting with arrangements.