Kenneth Bratcher

was born on October 23, 1919 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, the only child of Fred and Corda Bratcher. On July 5, 1942, he and Jeanne VanSlyke, also of Tonkawa, were married. Ken served in the Navy in the South Pacific during World war II and had a 38 year career with Cessna Aircraft. Following Jeanne’s death in 1978, Ken was married for 20 years to his second wife Hazel. Ken traveled extensively around the United States, often making new friends along the way. In recent years, he remained active in the senior activities at church, a bowling league, a weekly bridge club, and many other activities. Ken was honored in October of 2011 by participating in one of Wichita’s World War II Veterans’ Honor Flights to Washington D.C. and the World War II Memorial. Ken was preceded in death by his wives Jeanne and Hazel, his son Mike and his daughter-in-law Vicki. He is survived by his son, Van of Bakersfield, California and his daughter-in-law Sue of Wichita, as well as granddaughters Lisa and her husband Bob Nelson of Brentwood, California; Staci and her husband Randy Wilson of Shawnee, Kansas; and Pam and her husband Kent Elliott of Bakersfield, California; and grandsons Kendrick and his wife Gina of Reno, Nevada; and Scott and his wife Karissa of Wichita. He is also survived by eleven great grandchildren, Andrew Nelson and his wife Megan, Erin, Hailey and Sierra Nelson; Gianna and Nicholas Bratcher, Daltyn and Kaden Bratcher, Grady and Gavin Wilson and Hunter Elliott. Visitation is 5 to 7 pm Friday, Aug. 7 at Resthaven Mortuary. Funeral service is 10:30 am Sat. Aug. 8, 2015 at Riverside Christian Church. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Riverside Christian Church, 1001 N. Litchfield, Wichita, KS 67203 or Kansas Christian Home, 1035 SE 3rd St., Newton, KS 67114.