Obituary of Donald Weinkauf

Donald Gene Weinkauf, 77, died on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born November 18, 1928 in Banner, Oklahoma to Herman J. and Esther F. (Estes) Weinkauf. He was raised in the Yukon / El Reno area until 1941 when the family moved to Southeast Garfield County. Weinkauf graduated from Hayward High School in 1946. In 1958, he graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. Degree in Geology with a chemistry option from Oklahoma State University. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Weinkauf served his country from 1953-55 in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne during the Korean Conflict. Before forming Weinkauf Petroleum in 1980, he helped to found and was Vice President of Exploration at Cotton Petroleum Corporation in Tulsa. In 1973, he was elected to the Cotton Board of Directors. During his professional career, he was employed by Eason Oil Company and Honcho Oil and Gas both in Oklahoma City and Apache Corporation in Tulsa. Weinkauf Petroleum has been a consultant to May Petroleum and Rosewood Resources both in Dallas. Weinkauf was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Tulsa Geological Society and served on the alumni Advisory Committee for the Department of Geology at Oklahoma State University. During his career, research conducted on behalf on the Wall Street Journal determined Tulsan Don Weinkauf to be one of the top oil and gas finders in the nation. For thirty plus years the Weinkauf's owned and operated El Rojo Grande, a large beef cattle ranch in Garfield and Logan Counties. He also owned Weinkauf Earthmovers which was primarily engaged in oil field and farm and ranch construction. Weinkauf was an avid supporter of Oklahoma State University and has provided an education for several students through the Donald G. and Julia A. Weinkauf Presidents Distinguished Scholarship. He married Julia Ann Betchan on March 22, 1957 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Julia Weinkauf; daughter, Judge Donnita Wynn and son-in-law Dr. William Wynn, III of McAlester; son: Kirk Weinkauf, President, Weinkauf Petroleum and daughter-in-law Donna of Tulsa; grandchildren, Derek Weinkauf and Kent Weinkauf, Tulsa, Julia Wynn and Alana Wynn, McAlester, Dr. and Mrs. William Wynn, IV and Mrs. And Mrs. Michael Wynn, Tulsa and Dr. and Mrs. Robert Todd of Edmond; Five Great Grandchildren; Brother: Robert H. Weinkauf of Orlando, OK; mother-in-law: Mrs. Jack (Alma) Betchan of Tulsa; nephews: Larry Weinkauf and family of Orlando, OK, Bob Weinkauf and family of Perry, OK; sister-in-law: Sue Pearcy of Grand Prairie, Texas. Preceded in death by his parents Herman and Esther Weinkauf; father-in-law and best friend: Jack Betchan and sister-in-law: Freda Weinkauf. Funeral service will be Friday, May 26th at 2:00 p.m. at the Asbury United Methodist Church, 6767 S. Mingo Rd. in Tulsa. The family requests that memorials be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation to the Parkinson's Research Program, 825 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Ninde Funeral Directors, 3841 S. Peoria, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105 Tele: 918-742-5556 www.ninde.com