Edgar M. Deines passed peacefully on February 11, 2025, at age 95 from complications due to dementia. Edgar was born March 31, 1929, in WaKeeney, Kansas, to Benjamin and Pauline (Stieben) Deines. He was the last living sibling of eleven brothers and sisters: Raymond, Elmer, LaVerne, John, Carroll, Lillian, LaVera, Wilma, Betty, and Charlotte.
Edgar was a lifelong resident of WaKeeney. He left home as a high school junior and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December 1948, much to the disbelief of his mother. He proudly served four years during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1952 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. During his service years, he was stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas; Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois; Clark AFB in the Philippines; and served with the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron in Tachikawa, Japan. While in Japan, he completed his high school education.
After his military service, he returned to WaKeeney, began his career in the retail clothing business, and married the love of his life, Rosetta Jane Rohn, on August 3, 1953—a marriage that lasted 71 years. They were blessed with two children, Lance and Jana. In 1970, Edgar and Rosetta purchased the former Hillman’s clothing store and began Deines Clothing, a men’s and boys’ clothing store that they operated for 23 years before retiring and selling the store in 1993. It was during Edgar’s many years in retail clothing that he coined the phrase and said often until the end of his life: “When you look your best, you do your best!”
Edgar is survived by his wife, Rosetta; his son, Lance (Janine) Deines of Olathe, KS; his daughter, Jana (Bryce) Abbott of Wichita, KS; four grandchildren: Mallory (Sam) Arends and Spencer Deines of Olathe, KS; Logan (Sydnea) Abbott of Wichita, KS; Reid Abbott of Atlanta, GA; and three great-grandchildren, Elliott, Calvin, and Martin Arends, all of Olathe, KS. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary (LaVerne) Deines of WaKeeney; brothers-in-law, Marvin Rohn of Oakley, Robert Rohn of Wichita, and James (Kathy) Rohn of Avon Lake, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family is grateful for the medical care and kindness shown to Edgar by Dr. Gordon Lang, Dr. Paulo De Andrade, and the staff of Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital and Long-Term Care. The family also thanks Pastor Jon Anderson for his prayers and visits and the staff of Hospice Services, Inc. of Northwest Kansas.
Visitation with family will be held at Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N. 12th St., WaKeeney, KS, on April 3, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 338 N. 7th St., WaKeeney, on April 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a graveside service and burial at the WaKeeney Veterans’ Cemetery at 11:15 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials made out to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or the Trego County Hospital Endowment Foundation for the benefit of Long-Term Care. Donations made to the organizations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N. 12th St., WaKeeney, KS 67672.