Benny Frederick Gegen

Benny Frederick Gegen, 98 passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family members on August 16, 2026. Born in Wichita, Kansas, on March 24, 1928, at St. Francis Hospital, Benny was the only child of Lola Margaret Holder Gegen and Ben T. Gegen. A graduate of Wichita East High School in 1946, Benny married his fellow classmate, Patricia Louise Nutz, on October 1, 1947, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Together they celebrated 76 years of marriage and built a remarkable family that grew to include 13 children, 24 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren.

After graduating from high school, Benny joined the Coleman Company, where he worked in light assembly building small parts before pursuing his passion for drawing and transferring to the drafting department. There, he designed mechanical drawings for products Coleman planned to bring to market. After ten years with Coleman, he joined the City of Wichita’s newly established Water Department, serving as a records engineer and later helping design municipal water systems throughout the city.

Benny retired from the City of Wichita on September 14, 1984, after 27 years of service at the age of 56. Soon afterward, he was recruited by Ken Bengtson to design residential water systems for new subdivisions at the growing Mid-Kansas Engineering Company. Benny retired a second time in 1994 at the age of 66, allowing him to devote more time to his wife and family.

Known affectionately as Grandpa Ben, Papa Ben, and GG Pa, Benny served as a Boy Scout leader and enjoyed fishing, golfing, traveling, woodworking, stained glass, working on puzzles, and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his twelve children: Susan Way (Mike) of Wichita, Kansas; James Gegen (Carol) of Springfield, Virginia; Raymond Gegen (Maria) of Burlington, North Carolina; Philip Gegen (Angela) of Wichita, Kansas; Christopher Gegen (Kami) of Suwanee, Georgia; Kathy Tinsman (Dave) of Wichita, Kansas; Thomas Gegen (Sherrie) of Ave Maria, Florida; Daniel Gegen (Tina) of Wichita, Kansas; Melissa Pletcher (Doug) of Wichita, Kansas; Michelle Schintgen (Brent) of Wichita, Kansas; Alicia Little of Wichita, Kansas; and Michael Gegen (Mary) of Winder, Georgia; 24 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren and 2 more on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Patricia Louise Nutz Gegen; his son, Benny Gegen Jr.; and his grandchildren, April Nickl and Zachary Gegen.

A Rosary will be held on August 25^th at 6:00pm at the Downing & Lahey West Mortuary on West Maple. The Funeral Mass will be held on August 26^th, at 10:00am, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Services will be live streamed and available to view by clicking on the red button below “Watch Funeral Service”. Graveside service will be at the White Chapel Cemetery at noon on August 26th.

A memorial has been established with: Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, 3450 North Rock Road, Suite 213, Wichita, Kansas 67226.

Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.