Walter M. Linder

Walter Marcellus Linder died on Friday, November 10, 2023, at the age of 97 at Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kansas. Walt was born on January 17, 1926, on the family farm in Axtell, Nebraska, the son of Walter Nathaniel and Myrtle Alice (Anderson) Linder. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church. Walt graduated from Axtell High School in 1943.

Walt received an Associate of Arts Degree from Luther College in Wahoo, Nebraska before joining the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He was stationed state-side as an instructor at the U.S. Army Engineer School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, teaching sheet metal classes.

After his time in the Army, Walt returned to Nebraska to pursue an engineering degree at the University of Nebraska receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1957. He received his Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1960 at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied under Hans Einstein – Albert Einstein’s son.

He met his wife of 65 years, Jeannine Fischer, on a blind date at a dance at Peony Park in Omaha, Nebraska. They were married a year later on August 9, 1958, in Omaha, and returned to California where Walt completed his masters degree. Walt and Jeannine returned to Omaha in 1960 to raise their two children – a son followed by a daughter.

Walt spent his career as a hydraulic engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Omaha and Kansas City Districts. He moved his family to the Kansas City area in 1973 and retired as the Chief of the Hydrologic Engineering Branch in 1992. Career highlights included living in the Netherlands for a year where he received a diploma in 1966 after participating in an International Course in Hydraulic Engineering. He also worked in the Democratic Republic of Sudan to assist with improving navigation on the White Nile River and served as a consultant for flood control planning for the city of Taipei, Taiwan. A final career highlight was the Brush Creek flood control project in the Plaza area of Kansas City. After retirement, Walt consulted for several engineering firms in the Kansas City area.

A man of deep faith, Walt was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Prairie Village, Kansas, where he served as Vice President of the Church Council and member of the property committee. He later was a member of Atonement Lutheran Church in Overland Park, Kansas. A frequent “choir widow,” he was always willing to usher and assist where needed in the life of his church. He spent many Thursdays in his retirement years at the Hollis Renewal Center assisting with various improvement projects.

Walt was active in the Boy Scouts of America serving as a Cub Scout Pack Leader, Assistant Scout Master, and Troop Committee Chairman. He participated in weekend campouts well into his 70s earning various colored beads depending upon the weather. He loved to garden and aways had a yard full of beautiful flowers, trees, and shrubs as well as a greenhouse full of new plants.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Jeannine, of the home; son David Linder and his wife Rhonda Boger-Linder of Colorado Springs, Colorado; daughter Dianne Honomichl and her husband Kevin of De Soto, Kansas; granddaughter Hannah Mueting and her husband James of Morrison, Colorado; grandson Zach Linder and his wife Bethany of Fort Lupton, Colorado; grandson Mikolas Honomichl of Manhattan, Kansas; and great-grandson Whitt Mueting of Morrison, Colorado (Walt was overjoyed to meet this new great-grandson Father’s Day weekend this past June).

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 5, 2024, at Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, Kansas 66212. The service will be preceded by a visitation at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Atonement Lutheran Church or Hollis Renewal Center, 11414 Kansas Ave, Kansas City, Kansas 66111.

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ ~ Matthew 25:23