Donald Wineke
November 11, 1934 ~ August 5, 2023
Donald R. Wineke, 88, passed away on August 5, 2023 in Wichita, Kansas. Don was born on November 11, 1934 in New London, CT to Byron M. (Sr.) and Mary C. Wineke. He was the oldest of three children, along with brother Byron Jr. and sister Mary Lynn. Don’s father was an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, and as such, the family moved frequently. Don spent his childhood in several cities, including New London, CT, Baltimore, MD, Falmouth, MA, Freeport, NY, and Ketchikan, AK. Don graduated from Ketchikan High School in 1952 and attended the University of Washington for one year prior to enlisting in the Coast Guard, where he served for four years. Don returned to UW following his Coast Guard service, and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in English in 1960, then embarked on post-graduate work at Penn State University (Masters in English), and Indiana University (Ph.D. in English). Don taught English for several years at Temple University in Philadelphia, and in 1971, moved to Wichita where he began a distinguished 40-year career at Wichita State Univ., as a Professor in the English Dept. faculty, and twice serving as departmental Chairman.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Don had a tremendous passion for local theater. Among his dozens of acting and directing credits over a 40-year career were many productions with Shakespeare in the Park, and with the Wichita Community Theatre and Guild Hall Players. He added a film credit to his acting resume in the 2021 movie, “Death Alley”, filmed in and around Wichita. Don received numerous awards for his acting and directing, and was a 2013 inductee into the Mary Jane Teall Theatre Hall of Fame.
Don was also an avid sports fan - particularly of Dodgers baseball and his alma maters, but also as a long-time season-ticket holder for Wichita State basketball. Don had an incredible appreciation for music as well, with an eclectic love of music ranging from his early days listening to the jazz greats of the 1950s, across a spectrum of classical, folk and rock.
Don is preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, and wife Linda K. O’Shea. He is survived by son Kenneth (and wife Susan) of Noblesville, IN, daughter Rachel of Denver, CO, brother Byron Jr. (and wife Dianne) of Costa Mesa, CA, and grandchildren Justin (and wife Kenzi) (Seattle, WA), Jessica (Houston, TX) and Tyler (Bloomington, IN), as well as great-grandson Charlie (Seattle, WA).
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So sorry to hear of Don’s passing. He was a mentor to many of us at WSU and a role model for his devotion to his family, his very even keel, upbeat disposition, and general gregariousness. He brought Shakespeare to thousands in Wichita and a warm presence to the 6th floor of Lindquist Hall. One of the best people I ever met at WSU (or anywhere). Rest in peace.
I absolutely agree, Dr. DeFrain. I enrolled in every Shakespeare course I could with Dr. Wineke. And Portia’s lines from the Merchant of Venice about justice vs the law have been with me have been with me for 20 years thanks to this great man and teacher.
Don you will be missed.
I learned so much by watching Don act! His performance of Tiresias in Oedipus Rex was stellar! I was honored to know him and to share several kind and insightful conversations. Rest in Peace, Don.
Mr. Wineke was one the most memorable professors I had at WSU. I have such fond memories of of learning Shakespeare from one of the best. RIP!!
I am blessed to have had Dr. Wineke as my Shakespeare professor at WSU, then as a friend of theatre. I remember him telling our Shakespeare class that if we weren’t interested in purchasing the leather-bound, unabridged copy of Shakespeare’s complete works for his class, then we had no business taking the class…. I still have the book.
You touched the lives of so many. May God wrap you in His loving arms, and give you eternal peace.
I first met Don when we appeared together in The Fantastiks at Guild Hall. He was always so happy and fun to be around. I’ll miss him.
I will really miss Don; I knew him for almost forty years. We met through local theater and I always enjoyed the conversations we had offstage. I don’t think I ever met anyone who had a better knowledge of Shakespeare and Literature in general. Don often kept his education and position as a professor to himself. If you asked, he was willing to share what he knew and taught, if not, he let you figure things out on your own. Happily, he was not above making an occasional observation to friends-always very astute and pleasantly snarky. I will miss his humor. There’s a line in Hamlet-“Adieu, adieu, adieu, remember me…”. Don, I will remember you with great fondness. KathyThompson
I had Professor Wineke as an instructor. I remember him being a wonderful teacher who wanted to see his students learn.
As an English instructor in the area and Shakespeare fan, I took every course that Professor Wineke taught — he was a great practitioner of the traditional close reading approach, sans pareil.
His insightful teaching touched so many people’s lives. I recall him saying that like Olivier he thought of Shakespeare every day.
Hearing of his passing away, I am reminded of Hamlet’s words, “he was a man. Take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”
Fair winds and following seas sailor. “Boatswain… Standby to pipe the side… Shipmate’s going Ashore…” Thank you Donald for your service to this nation. U.S. Coast Guard.
Ahh, man. Dr. Wineke was one of a kind. I took his poetry class for my master’s and he read John Donne’s “The Sun Rising” out loud to the class. I’d never been affected by a reading like I was that day. His voice, his inflection, his knowing glances — his performance brought that piece of centuries-old writing to LIFE. It was doubly fun to watch him on the community theatre stage. And yes, his pleasantly snarky countenance was a joy to behold. Always enjoyed running into him around town. Condolences to his family.
I will miss you, Don. It was an absolute pleasure knowing you and sharing the love of theatre with you. God bless you, my friend. My condolences and love to your family.
Though I never had the pleasure of taking Dr. Wineke at WSU because I only attended there for a Masters in Education degree, I had the great pleasure of getting to know him pretty well through our involvement with The Wichita Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare in the Park. I most vividly remember our interactions during CYMBELLINE in Spring of 2014. Don was Cymbelline and Jupiter in the show. I was blessed to play Guiderius. I was moved by Don’s power when he made his “Deus Ex Machina” appearance near the end as Jupiter, come to set things right. Because I, too, teach literature, Don and I had many a fecund dialogue about Bardian things. I will miss my friend. He was a wit, a scholar, an actor,/ and potent in eye with piercing tongue/ a mentor and a benefactor/ which made our lives more fun…. Adieu!
During services it was said “you live on in the memories of those you touch”…I’m watching the live stream now from deep south Louisiana and am still touched by my time in Wichita (many decades ago) and studying with Don Wineke.
Don and I were roommates at the University of Washington during 1957-1958. We met at a Railway Express Depot while picking up our luggage and hit it off well. Although I was a graduate student in the physical education department Don was 2 years older than me and just returned to Seattle after discharge from the Coast Guard. He was a great guy and we enjoyed the year together. I learned a lot from him. I was invited to his parents home for Thanksgiving in 1957 since I lived in New York and wasn’t going home for the holiday. Very sad to read of his passing. Mike Glotzer