Allen Kauk

Funeral services were held Wednesday for Allen “Diz” Lorraine Kauk, 80, of Leedey, at the Leedey United Methodist Church. He was interred at New Hermon Cemetery in Leedey.

Kauk died Saturday, April 30, 2016, in Clinton.

He was born Nov. 11, 1935, the youngest child of Edward William and Carolina Louise (Steiger) Kauk, in Elk City. The family lived southeast of Leedey, where Kauk attended Eureka Country School. When Eureka School closed he attended Leedey School, graduating with the Class of 1954. He continued his education at Oklahoma City University and obtained an associates degree in electronics.

On June 15, 1958, Kauk married Maxine Richardson in Foss. In September of that year he was drafted and did his basic training in Colorado. Afterward he was assigned to Nike Hercules headquarters at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, S.D. He was honorably discharged in 1964 and returned to Oklahoma City.

In 1965 he moved his family to Rhea. They purchased the Rhea Store and ran it for several years. They then acquired a propane business in Leedey and later opened an appliance store. He operated the stores until he retired in 2012.

Kauk was baptized as a young man and joined the Leedey United Methodist Church.

He was also a member of the Leedey Chamber of Commerce. He enjoyed fishing and watching sports, especially his grandchildren, and rarely missed a ball game.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Gilbert, Melvin, Johnny and Austin; two sisters, Florence Kauk and Geraldine Robertson; and a daughter, Tina Michelle Lorenz.

Survivors include his wife; son Mike Kauk and wife LaDena, of Leedey; son-in-law Marty Lorenz, of Kremlin; brother Junior Kauk, of Leedey; sister Margaret Nichols, of Elk City; sister-in-law Roberta Kauk, of Leedey; grandchildren Rachel Bancroft and husband Michael, of Leedey, Tamara Kauk and Blair Kauk, both of Weatherford, Hunter Lorenz and Haylee Lorenz, both of Kremlin; great-granddaughter Kinley Grace Bancroft, of Leedey; several nieces and nephews; and many other family members and friends.