Wil Linkugel's obituary from the
Lawrence Journal-World, May 11, 2012:
Memorial services for Wilmer Albert Linkugel, 83, Lawrence, KS, will be
held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in
Lawrence, KS. Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery. He died on
Thursday, May 10, 2012 at his home. Wilmer was born on January 12, 1929
in Bremen, KS the son of Otto and Louise (Knabe) Linkugel. He attended
Bethlehem Lutheran Church school thru eighth grade, graduated from
Marysville High School in 1947, received his B.A. in 1953 and M.A. in
1954 from the University of Nebraska and his Ph.D. in 1960 from the
University of Wisconsin. He taught for four years in a one-room country
schoolhouse, two years from 1954-1956 at North Platte High School, in
North Platte, NE, and then taught at the University of Kansas as an
Speech & Communication Professor for 42 years from 1956 - 1999. He
was a member of the Speech Communication Association and received two
awards for excellence in teaching. A member of Central States
Communication Association and was inaugural inductee to Central States
Communication Association Hall of Fame and Kansas Speech Association and
received the Outstanding College Speech Teacher Award. He was also a
member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and University Student Center and
was President of the congregation and served as Elder many times. He
was married to Helen Motyka on June 21, 1958 in Utica, NY. She survives
of the home. Other survivors include two daughters, LeAnn Linkugel Ward,
Lawrence, Kristin Linkugel, Rio Rancho, New Mexico; one brother Harold
Linkugel, Bremen, KS. The family will greet friends one hour prior to
the service on Tuesday at the church. The family suggests memorials in
his name to the KU Endowment Communication Studies Department and may be
sent in care of the mortuary. Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.
The last time I recall seeing Dr.
Linkugel was the final week of September, 1993. Late
that summer, George Brett announced that he was retiring from major league baseball. I immediately called the KC Royals ticket office and reserved 6 tickets for the last home stand. My wife and I took our then 6-week baby on her first plane flight and were met by
Donn Parson, Wil Linkugel and
Robin Rowland.In my memory, Brett had a hit and KC won, so I think it was the
game on the 29th.
Linkugel was a huge fan of baseball and told me that night of his planned book about phenoms who had surprisingly short careers. In 1998, McFarland published
They Tasted Glory, which includes chapters about Tony Conigliaro, Mark Fidrych, Lyman Bostock, J.R. Richard, Steve Busby, and Thurman Munson, among others
.
I'm going to find a copy soon.
