Dwane Shank

Dwane Arlyn Shank, 80, passed away on August 26th, 2013 at his home in Greensburg, Kansas. He was born on September 1st, 1932 in Pawnee County to Arlyn and Ruth Shank. He graduated from Burdett High School and then attended Brown Mackie Business School. When he returned to Burdett, he married his high school sweetheart, Esther Nuckolls, on December 22, 1950 and began his career working in the familiy car dealership. After several years he left to become District Sales Manager for Cessna Aircraft. Next, he established his own car dealership, Dwane Shank Motors, in Greensburg with his wife and son who still run the business. He was active in the the Greensburg community, serving as president of the City Council and later as mayor. Dwane had a life-long passion for flying, earning his pilot’s license at an early age. He logged over 5000 flying hours over his lifetime and gave countless people their first airplane rides. He was especially interested in WWII training aircraft, restoring 2 vintage planes from the ground up and rebuilding parts for several others. Dwane was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association – Warbirds Division, The North American Trainer Association, AOPA and the United Methodist Church in Greensburg. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Esther Shank, his daughter, Jeanette Petersen and her husband Jim of Boulder, Colorado, his son, Ron Shank and his wife Trudy of Greensburg, Kansas and another daughter, Judy Beebe and her husband Jim of Wichita, Kansas. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and took great delight in the visits of his 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 30, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Terry Mayhew officiating. Burial will be 2:30 p.m. Friday in Brown’s Grove Cemetery, Burdett, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church and the Twilight Theater, Greensburg, both in care of Fleener Funeral Home, 514 S. Main St., Greensburg, Kansas, 67054.