Dirk Riniker

Dirk Louis Riniker, 67, of Wamego, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 9, 2024 while surrounded by his family at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan, Kansas.  As the eldest child of Daney and Betty (Colson) Riniker, he was born on June 23, 1956, in Ottawa, Kansas. They later moved to Louisville, Kansas. He attended schools in Louisville and Wamego; and graduated from Wamego High School in 1974.

On August 10, 1979 Dirk was united in marriage to Rebecca “Becky” Ebert at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wamego, Kansas. The two of them enjoyed nearly 45 years of marriage which included raising their three adored children, Derek Riniker of Wamego, Kansas, Amanda Riniker of Manhattan, Kansas and Dylan Riniker (Victoria Pettay) of Manhattan, Kansas.

Along with his wife and children, Dirk is also survived by his mother Betty Riniker of Louisville, Kansas and his twin brothers, Dan Riniker (Julie) of Wamego, Kansas and Daney Riniker of Westmoreland, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his father, Daney Riniker in 2010 and his nephew, Jayson Ebert, in 2021.

Other survivors include his father-in-law, James Ebert (Dorothy Winterman) of Wamego, Kansas; his mother-in-law, Alice Marten (Bob) of St. George, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Denise Carlston of Manassas, Virginia, Rhonda Trudo (Ron) of Manhattan, Kansas, and Lisa Diederich (Tim) of Wamego, Kansas; and a brother-in-law, James Ebert II (Jenni) of Wamego, Kansas, and many nieces and nephews.

Dirk inherited a strong work ethic from his parents at a young age. His first job was at the age of 11, delivering the daily Topeka Capital Journal newspaper to Louisville residents. During and after high school, he worked as a farmhand, first for Buddy Habluetzel and then for Arlo Stockebrand. He later began working as a heavy construction equipment operator for companies including Bayer Construction, Manhattan, Kansas, Midwest Construction, Kansas City, Missouri, and Ebert Construction, Wamego, Kansas. Most of his years were spent with Ebert Construction where he was a natural leader who worked his way up to serving as President and CEO, and was a stockholder with his wife Becky, until his retirement.

During his career, he served in many leadership roles in the local community as well as in the construction industry at large. Locally, he served on the City of Wamego Infrastructure Planning Committee and as a director for the Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation, both for several years. In the construction industry, he served in many capacities for the Kansas Land Improvement Contractors of America, including as President in 2004 and was named the 2005 Contractor of the Year. For the National Land Improvement Contractors of America, he served as President from 2010 - 2011 and then as a regional director for many years. Dirk also served on the board of directors of the Kansas Contractors Association (KCA) from 2014 - 2019 and was a past chairman of the KCA Grading and Railroad Division. He developed many lifelong friendships with others in the industry, including competitors with whom he shared a mutual respect, regardless of who won a bid.

Work was Dirk’s life and hobby, but other things he loved and enjoyed were time with his family and good friends; fishing and motorcycle trips with buddies; and cross-country road trips with Becky and their friends discovering whatever they might find along the way including “hole in the wall” restaurants and bars, many of which turned out to be hidden gems.

He will lie in-state beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 17, 2024 at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home, followed by a visitation where family will greet friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wamego.  Burial will follow in the Wamego City Cemetery.

Memorial donations are suggested to Wamego Community Foundation FBO: The Dirk Riniker Memorial Fund for Children’s Outdoor Recreation and may be left in care of Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.