1932
Frank
2016
Frank Midkiff
October 24, 1932 — March 6, 2016
Franklin R. Midkiff, born October 24, 1932 passed away on March 6, 2016, in his home in North Newton, KS of a heart attack.
Frank was born in Chelyan, W.Va. to Samuel and Gertrude (Burger) Midkiff, but moved to South Charleston, WV at the age of 2 where he grew up as the youngest of 5 children. He began a newspaper route at the age of 11 that continued for 8 years, then graduated from South Charleston High School. He went on to get his degree in Petroleum Engineering from West Virginia University at Morgantown in 1955.
He began his career working for Magnolia Oil Co. in Eldorado KS where he met the love of his life, Emmalyne “Emmy” Schmidt and they were married on September 21, 1957, setting up their first home in Electra, TX. Frank had been drafted into the military requiring him to spend 6 months in El Paso, TX in 1956. In 1961 he spent a year with the Texas National Guard in the 49th Armored Division at Leesville, LA during the Berlin Crisis and ended with the rank of Captain.
He returned to work for Magnolia Oil in Texas and New Mexico, then several different companies in West Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. His final 20 years were with Costal Oil and Gas in Colorado and Texas.
During their life together, Frank & Emmy had 3 children, Paul (1961), Susan (1964) and Kevin (1966), each born in a different state, yet all three graduated from the same High School in Littleton CO. Brad Tollefson joined the family in the late 1970s. Frank was passionate about his faith, volunteer work, camping with his boys, reading, listening to music, and traveling.
Frank is survived by his wife, Emmy of the home, his son Paul Midkiff of Jamestown CO, daughter Susan (Don) Comi of Spokane WA , son Kevin (Teresa) Midkiff of Calgary, AB, Brad Tollefson of Moab UT, their grandchildren – Samuel Comi, Sarah (Andrew) Barnes, Matthew (Dana) Comi, Hannah Comi, William Midkiff, Samuel Midkiff, Holly Midkiff , Nicole Dobson, Matthew Dobson and many nieces and nephews.
Frank is preceded in death by his parents –Samuel & Gertrude Midkiff, his siblings – Oswald Midkiff, Mary Weatherholt, Charles Midkiff, and William Midkiff.
Visitation with the family is at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton on Thursday, March 10 from 6-7:30 p.m, friends may call at the funeral home between 1pm and 8pm on Thursday.
The burial is at Burns Mennonite Cemetery in Burns, KS on Friday, March 11 at10:30 a.m. The memorial service is at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton on Friday, March 11, at 1:30 p.m.
Memorials have been established with the Kauffman Museum or Bethel College Mennonite Church. Contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Ks. 67114.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.
Frank was born in Chelyan, W.Va. to Samuel and Gertrude (Burger) Midkiff, but moved to South Charleston, WV at the age of 2 where he grew up as the youngest of 5 children. He began a newspaper route at the age of 11 that continued for 8 years, then graduated from South Charleston High School. He went on to get his degree in Petroleum Engineering from West Virginia University at Morgantown in 1955.
He began his career working for Magnolia Oil Co. in Eldorado KS where he met the love of his life, Emmalyne “Emmy” Schmidt and they were married on September 21, 1957, setting up their first home in Electra, TX. Frank had been drafted into the military requiring him to spend 6 months in El Paso, TX in 1956. In 1961 he spent a year with the Texas National Guard in the 49th Armored Division at Leesville, LA during the Berlin Crisis and ended with the rank of Captain.
He returned to work for Magnolia Oil in Texas and New Mexico, then several different companies in West Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. His final 20 years were with Costal Oil and Gas in Colorado and Texas.
During their life together, Frank & Emmy had 3 children, Paul (1961), Susan (1964) and Kevin (1966), each born in a different state, yet all three graduated from the same High School in Littleton CO. Brad Tollefson joined the family in the late 1970s. Frank was passionate about his faith, volunteer work, camping with his boys, reading, listening to music, and traveling.
Frank is survived by his wife, Emmy of the home, his son Paul Midkiff of Jamestown CO, daughter Susan (Don) Comi of Spokane WA , son Kevin (Teresa) Midkiff of Calgary, AB, Brad Tollefson of Moab UT, their grandchildren – Samuel Comi, Sarah (Andrew) Barnes, Matthew (Dana) Comi, Hannah Comi, William Midkiff, Samuel Midkiff, Holly Midkiff , Nicole Dobson, Matthew Dobson and many nieces and nephews.
Frank is preceded in death by his parents –Samuel & Gertrude Midkiff, his siblings – Oswald Midkiff, Mary Weatherholt, Charles Midkiff, and William Midkiff.
Visitation with the family is at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton on Thursday, March 10 from 6-7:30 p.m, friends may call at the funeral home between 1pm and 8pm on Thursday.
The burial is at Burns Mennonite Cemetery in Burns, KS on Friday, March 11 at10:30 a.m. The memorial service is at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton on Friday, March 11, at 1:30 p.m.
Memorials have been established with the Kauffman Museum or Bethel College Mennonite Church. Contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Ks. 67114.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.
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