Judge John Weckel passed away on Thursday,December 29, 2022, at Salina Presbyterian Manor surrounded by his family. John will be remembered as a loving husband to Kathryn (Katie) Weckel, and a wonderful father to his daughters: Sarah Hays (Fred) and Stephanie Weckel (Betsy Marietta). He adored his two grandchildren: Ryan Hays(Stephanie Lee) of New York City and Nicholas Hays (Caycee) of Lincoln, Nebraska. He lived to enjoy his great grandsons: Harrison Hays and Lukas Hays of Lincoln, Nebraska.
John was born and raised in Salina, Kansas by Ruth and Clyde Weckel and was a lifelong Salina resident. As the oldest of eight, he was a devoted brother to his six sisters and brother, filling in at school events when his parents were unavailable and always remaining a steadfast source of advice for his siblings and their families.
He graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University where he was on the debate team, sang in the choir and was involved in numerous activities. He and Katie were married June 2, 1951 and celebrated 69 years of marriage before Katie’s death. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law and subsequently joined Rudolph Barta’s law practice in Salina on February 1, 1953. He became an Assistant Saline County Attorney under Raymond Haggard and subsequently served as Saline County Attorney for four years. He was a state district court judge for 20 years from 1973-1993 and was one of the first senior judges appointed in Kansas under a new law designed to provide assistance to courts around the state.He worked as a senior judge throughout the state for 12 years, and in his second retirement volunteered his services as needed to the court in Salina.For more than 40 years, he was ably assisted in his law practice and during his judicial career by Joyce Wiese who became part of his extended family. In 2013, he was honored for having been a member of the Kansas Bar Association for 60 years. In his nearly 40 years as a judge, he performed hundreds of marriage ceremonies in the Salina area.
John was an Eagle Scout, served in the National Guard, was active in the Shriners and various other organizations including the Downtown Lions Club, the YMCA, the Salina Elks Lodge, the Boy Scouts and in the 1960’s served as President of the Salina Council of Churches. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Salina. In addition to his civic activities and spending time with his family, he enjoyed spending time with friends. He and Katie were longtime members of several bridge clubs. Beginning in 1953, he and Keno Stephenson and others met for early morning coffee every weekday. This group continued meeting even in retirement.In talking about the coffee group, he noted that when the group first started meeting at Duckwalls a cup of coffee was 5 cents, but by the time the group was meeting at the local doughnut shop in the 2000’s a cup cost $1.80.
In addition to his daughters and their families, he is survived by his sisters- Jackie Smith, Patty Robinson, and Faye Bright, sister-in-law Caroline Weckeland numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Katie, brother, Monty Weckel, sisters Margaret Pinter, Sally Balentine, and June Grinage, nephew Craig Smith and niece Barbara Balentine Knight.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to everyone who assisted in John’s care including the wonderful staff at Presbyterian Manor, Hospice of Salina, TLC, and Linda Phelps and Tony Pollock both of whom were attentive to John for many years. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to the John and Kathryn (Katie) Weckel Endowed Scholarship at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina.