Walter R. Pfister

Walter “Walt” R. Pfister, 88, of Wichita, passed away peacefully at home on September 6, 2015. Walt was born in Butte, MT, to Ernest and Mary (Zaugg) Pfister and grew up in Lead, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He graduated from Lead High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving a tour of duty during World War II. Later he re-enlisted in the US Air Force and continued his service in the Korean War. In recognition of his military service, Walt participated in an Honor Flight to Washington DC in 2010. While in Omaha, he met Jo Anne Jones, who was in nursing school, and they married after she finished college. The couple moved to Fort Wayne, IN, where Walt attended Indiana Technical College on the GI bill. They started a family in Fort Wayne with the birth of their son, Daniel William. After Walt graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, the couple moved to Wichita where he went to work for Boeing, and expanded their family with the birth of their daughter, Dianne Marie. He later went to work for Lear Jet but returned to Boeing and retired as a senior research engineer. Walt will be remembered for his 61-year marriage to Jo Anne and the life they built together. He loved dancing, fishing, gardening and helping others. In his later years, he produced art from nature’s bounty, sharing his many creations with family and friends. Walt was an active long-time member of Goddard United Methodist Church, ushering nearly every Sunday. Family and friends will miss the sparkle in his eyes and his endearing boyish grin. He was preceded in death by his son, Dan, a brother and three sisters. He is survived by his wife Jo Anne, daughter, Dianne (Scott) Stanley, Leawood, KS, and three granddaughters Lauren, Meg and Kathleen Stanley. Service will be at Resthaven Mortuary Chapel in Wichita at 1 PM on Saturday, Sept. 19th. Burial follows at Resthaven Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Goddard United Methodist Church, 300 North Cedar Street, Goddard, KS, 67052.