Kenneth Ray Mittasch

Kenneth Mittasch, called Kenny by his friends, was born to Grover, Jr. and Flossie (Kaup) Mittasch, at the family home east of Perry, Oklahoma, on January 19, 1948. Kenneth passed away on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, while at home surrounded by the love of his family.

Kenneth started helping with the farming and cattle chores as soon as he could carry a bucket. He started his own livestock operation with a pig bought for him when he was five years old by his grandfather, Grover Mittasch, Sr., who also started taking him to the Pawnee Sale Barn every Saturday. He continued to attend the auctions until his health prevented it over sixty years later.

Kenneth attended Sumner Public Schools until the end of his sophomore year when the school closed. Along with his classmates, Kenneth joined the Morrison Wildcats, where he lettered in basketball and baseball, was both class president and FFA president and graduated with the Class of 1966.

After graduation, Kenneth attended Northern Oklahoma College for his freshman year. He married Peggy Howell on September 2, 1967, and he joined her at Oklahoma State University, where they completed their education. During Kenneth’s college years and while later working for Perry Livestock and Auction, Kenneth leased land and continued to build his cattle operation. Kenneth completed seven years in the Oklahoma Army National Guard before being honorably discharged.

In July, 1976, Kenneth became the District Feed Sales Representative for MoorMan’s Manufacturing Company. He moved his family to Pawnee, where they joined the Pawnee First United Methodist Church and also became active in several community organizations. Kenneth particularly enjoyed coaching Pawnee baseball with Ned Williams for many years.

During his forty one years in Pawnee, Kenneth, with his wife, Peggy, enjoyed his work as a feed sales representative, increasing his land and cattle operation, and watching their sons, Ryan and Barry, grow up in the Pawnee school system, graduate from Oklahoma State University, and marry wonderful girls, Laurie and Mandy, also graduates of Oklahoma State University. His most cherished times were those spent with his family.

Kenneth always lived the creed that honesty is the best policy, hard work will achieve the best results, one should treat all people with courtesy and respect, help whenever one can, and if a man’s word is no good, no matter what he has achieved, he is not worth much.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Grover and Flossie Mittasch, and his sister-in-law, Marlana Atkinson. He is survived by his wife, Peggy, his son, Ryan and wife Laurie, Pawnee, his son, Barry and wife Mandy, Bixby, and his grandchildren Gunner and Grady, Pawnee, and Mason and Brynnlee, Bixby, his sister, Janice and Larry Hansen, Perry, brother, Robert and Betty Mittasch, Morrison, brothers-in- law, Dr. Joe Howell and Jayme’, Oklahoma City, Dr. John Howell and Mary, Morrison, and sister-in-law, Carolyn Passwater, Cherokee, and their families, many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

Poteet Funeral Home has arranged services to celebrate Kenneth’s life, which will be held at the Pawnee First United Methodist Church, on Friday, August 31, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. followed by graveside services at Highland Park Cemetery, Pawnee. Donations may be made in Kenneth’s memory, to the Pawnee County Cattlemen’s Association Scholarship Fund or the Pawnee First United Methodist Church.