Al Shank

Albert Isaac “Al” Shank, Jr., age 68, owner and CEO of Al Shank Insurance, Inc. died Thursday, February 22, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas.

Born April 26, 1955, in Liberal, Kansas to Albert Isaac and Georga “Maxine” (Long) Shank.  Upon graduating from Liberal High School in 1973, he attended the University of Kansas on a football scholarship, majoring in Business and playing with the Jayhawks as part of the 1975 Sun Bowl team. He married Donna Beene in 1974 and together they had three children who all followed in Al’s footsteps graduating from both LHS and KU.  

Al was an influential presence in the local community, taking on leadership roles for a large number of professional and civic organizations including Seward County Community College, Rotary Club, Leadership Liberal, Leadership Kansas, The Kansas Association of Insurance Agents, The KU Alumni Association board, KU Honors Program, K-Club, Bison Insurance Group, and the First United Methodist Church among others. For over 35 years, Al served as parade and race announcer for the International Pancake Race held in Liberal against sister city Olney, England – a role his father Al Sr. had previously held since the race’s inception. Both are memorialized in the Pancake Day Hall of Fame.

Survivors include children; Megan (Lyn) Harp, Marc (Becky) Shank, and Miranda (Andy) Ruland; fiancé Lynde Kerr and her sons Shay and Lukas; sisters Reba Smothermon and Sally Luallen; grandchildren Halle, Georga, Isaac, Scout, and Rosemary; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Cynthia Ragland Baker, brothers in law; Wendell Scott Smothermon, First Lt. Oliver Kent Ragland, and Lt. Col John Robert Baker.

Visitation will be 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, on Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 W 2^nd Street, Liberal, Kansas, family will be present from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM to greet friends.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church, 116 W. 3^rd Street, Liberal, Kansas.  Reverend Brad Bennett will be officiating.

A burial will follow at the Liberal Cemetery.  

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Al Shank Jr. Scholarship Fund in care of Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 W 2^nd Street, Liberal, Kansas.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hornungfuneralhome.com