Kenneth Raymond Wirths, son of Raymond, Sr. and Claudia (Woydzaik) Wirths, was born September 10, 1942, in Wichita, Kansas. He departed this life on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Lake Regional Hospital, at the age of eighty-three years, six months, and twenty-one days.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Keith Wirths and Gerald Wirths.

Kenny is survived by his children, Kimberly Wirths of Harrisonville, MO, Kelly Wirths (Shanna) of Roach, MO, and Kristina Wirths of Joplin, MO. Grandsons, Kobe (Coriann) and Kennen Wirths of Roach, MO. Siblings, Ronnie (Carol), Gary (Janet), Carol O’Conner (Jerry), Wayne (Patricia), Jimmie (Diana), Raymond Jr. (Mary), Joanne Knight (Michael), and Randy (Natalie).

Kenny grew up in Wichita and moved to Roach, Missouri, in 1968 when his family business, Wirths & Sons Manufacturing, Inc., expanded into the sawmill business to supply their growing pallet manufacturing business. In 1988, he separated from the family operation to form Wirths Lumber Company, Inc. He operated the business supplying pallet lumber, pallets, crating, and sawmill operations until his retirement in 2004. Kenny enjoyed working the land at his farm and was an avid trapshooter in his younger years.

Kenny dearly loved his grandsons and cherished every moment spent with them. To them, he was more than “Papa.” He was a teacher, a guide, and a steady presence. He taught them how to bait a hook and cast a line with patience, how to track and respect the land while hunting, and how to take apart and rebuild equipment with care and determination. He believed that the best lessons weren’t spoken, but shown- through calloused hands, and time spent side by side. Whether knee-deep in a creek, walking through the woods, or bent over an open engine, he passed down not just skills, but values: hard work, resilience, respect for nature, and pride in doing things the right way.

Those who knew him will remember his quiet strength, his willingness to help anyone in need, and the way he made time for what truly mattered: family. His legacy lives on in the lives he shaped, especially in the grandsons who will carry his lessons forward every time they cast a line, head into the woods, or pick up a wrench.

Kenny will be truly missed by those who loved him, but never forgotten.