Keith A. Urbanek

United States Naval Commander Keith Arlen Urbanek passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Keith honorably served his county from 1964 to 1988 as an officer in the United States Navy, flying over 200 missions in Vietnam. During his distinguished military career he was awarded 31 personal decorations and numerous Letters of Appreciation and Commendations including 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 20 Air Medals, 4 Navy Commendation Medals (3 with combat) and a Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star. During his military career he served aboard the USS Shangri La (deployed to the western pacific), the USS Roosevelt (deployed to the eastern atlantic), the USS Enterprise (deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin/Vietnam) and the USS Constellation (deployed to the western pacific/indian ocean in support of middle east operations). As a naval aviator, he flew over 200 missions with 75% over north Vietnam, many as strike leader. Keith will have full Military Honors and will be laid to rest in the Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Winfield, Kansas along with his wife of 57 years, Juliana Urbanek. Keith is survived by his son Kurt A. Urbanek and his daughter Dawn A. Urbanek, and two grandchildren Zach and Zoe Shor. He loved his children passionately and spent his later years fighting for the rights of disabled veterans. Father: Frank H. Urbanek (deceased) Mother: Mary Urbanek (deceased) Siblings: Frank D. Urbanek, (Wilma, deceased.), Topeka, Kansas Frances Moore, (George), both deceased Dean, (Donna), both deceased. Victor, (Betty), both deceased. Ben, (Wanda), Henderson, Kentucky Roland, deceased, ( Lois,), Carbondale, Kansas Phyllis Ogburn, (Don), Lawrence, Kansas Julies Family Father: Theodore Leiker deceased Mother: Elizabeth (Gabel) Leiker deceased Siblings: Sr. Mary Elise Leiker Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Freda (Roman deceased) Wiesner Ellis, Kansas Alma (Ralph )Sanders (both deceased) Firma (Ralph deceased) Dechant Wichita, Kansas Maurice (deceased) Lillian Leiker Hays, Kansas Clifford (Vera) Leiker Silver Lake Kansas Tony (Janet deceased) Leiker Wichita, Kansas Carol (Duane) Wadley Wichita, Kansas Linda (Donald deceased) Braun Wichita, Kansas May Keith and Julie find eternal peace and love. We will miss you. A final salute - Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Fading light, dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright. From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night. Thanks and praise, for our days, Neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky. As we go, this we know, God is nigh. Sun has set, shadows come, Time has fled, we must go to our rest. Always true to the promises weve made. Fading light, dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright. From afar, drawing nigh, Falls the night.