Robert Wayne McKinney

July 15, 2021

Robert was born on October 29, 1927, to Walter and Sadie McKinney in Coldwater, Kansas. He was the youngest of 7 children and was raised on the family farm.
He would say that he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age. He was committed to the Methodist Church in Weskan and later the Weskan Bible Church.
Robert met his wife when she was a music teacher in Greensburg, KS. On June 2, 1950, Robert and Pauline were married at Pratt First Christian Church.
Soon after the wedding they hooked up their pickup to a camper trailer and left Coldwater to head west to farm some newly purchased land for the summer. They came through Western Kansas and into Eastern Colorado after dark and arrived 22 miles northwest of Cheyenne Wells at the corner of a wheat field. Pauline was definitely surprised when she woke up the next day to no trees and lots of wind.
In 1951, they purchased a farmstead southwest of Weskan that they would call home for the next 70 years. Their early years would bring many hardships with the drought but also many blessings with the arrival of 3 boys. Terry was born on August 29, 1952. Wayne came along on July 31, 1955. The youngest of the family, Bryan, was born on June 19, 1957.
Ron Deckert was invited to become a vital part of the family in the summer of 1971, after suffering the loss of both parents at a young age. Robert and Pauline welcomed Ron with open arms and treated him as their own son for the rest of their lives. Both Robert and Pauline knew what it was like to lose parents at an early age.
Robert loved this community and the Weskan School. He spent many years serving on the school board. Later he would serve as a County Commissioner for Wallace County. He was involved with the United Methodist Church in Weskan and was a strong supporter in the construction of the new building which is now the Weskan Bible Church.
Robert and Pauline were a strong team throughout their marriage, and Robert continued his devotion and commitment to her through her last days. The Lord took Pauline on April 13, 2009.
Preceding him in death is his wife, Pauline, his parents, 4 sisters and 2 brothers along with Ron Deckert of Liberal, Kansas.
Surviving family includes son Terry McKinney, his wife Nancy of Columbia, Missouri; their children Chris and wife (Elizabeth) with their 4 daughters of Columbia, Missouri; David and wife (Kelli) with their 2 sons of Kansas City, Mo; and Melissa of St. Louis, Missouri; son Wayne McKinney, his wife Trudi of Weskan; their children Hollie and husband (Josh) with their 2 boys; Hillary of Weskan; Samuel of Manhattan, KS; and Alivia of Manhattan, KS, ; son Bryan McKinney, his wife Deanne of Weskan; their children Shaun and wife (Laura) with their son and daughter of Lakewood, Washington; Derek of Weskan, KS; Nathan of Chicago, IL and Jared of Boulder, CO; Jerry Deckert of Ulysses and her children Brenna and husband(Joakim) of Stockholm, Sweden; and Katelyn and (Chet)of Lawrence.
Funeral services for Robert McKinney were held on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at the Risen King Community Church in Weskan, KS with Pastor Tim Cress of the Weskan Bible Church officiating.  Burial followed in the Weskan Cemetery.  Memorial contributions should be made to the Robert McKinney Memorial Fund in c/o any Eastern Colorado Bank location.  Friends and family can sign the guestbook and register online condolences at www.brownfuneraldirectors.com.  Brown Funeral Home in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado was entrusted with funeral arrangements.