Vernon Ochs - LHS Class of 1951

Vernon R. Ochs, Leavenworth, 76, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2009, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
For 40 years, the Army veteran of the Korean War owned and operated Dairy Queen in Leavenworth, and as a downtown merchant actively participated in and supported civic endeavors ranging from Buffalo Bill Days (where for several years beginning in 1987 he supervised the building of a “ block-long banana split”) to the creation of the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum.
He was born August 5, 1932, in Leavenworth County, the son of Adam W. and Mary Cortner Ochs. He graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1951. On November 14, 1954, he married Joanne J. Brown (LHS Class of 1951), who worked beside him in business operations and in activities supporting organizations ranging from Boy Scouts to their church. She survives him. His life’s work in food service began in Korea, where he was a mess sergeant, and following military service he returned to his hometown and soon purchased the Leavenworth Dairy Queen, which is believed to be the first downtown franchised restaurant.  His appreciation for fine workmanship and the city’s history are evident in the 1913 Parker carousel that serves as the centerpiece of the downtown Leavenworth museum, for which he sought donations of money and building materials for the restoration project while spending countless hours alongside other volunteers as they repaired, sanded and painted the vintage carved horses.

Other survivors include four children who all worked in the family business as teenagers: Richard Ochs (Judy) of Wichita, Nancy Copeland (Jack) of Shawnee, Mary Ellen Soden (Jack) of Wichita and Daniel Ochs (Patricia) of Wichita. Also surviving are one brother, Raymond Ochs (Eleanor), and six grandchildren, Jill Walrod (John), Justin Ochs, Stephanie Soden, Emily Soden, Christopher Soden and Kristen Ochs.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum, 320 S. Esplanade. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, June 11, 2009, at the family’s church, Southern Heights United Methodist Church, 726 Muncie Road. Pastor Loren Drummond will officiate. Serving as casket bearers are Ray Kohler, Harry Mohan, Jerry Reinhardt, Justin Ochs, Christopher Soden and John Walrod. Honorary casket bearers are Edward Bott, John Ochs and Herb Walker. Burial will follow at Mount Muncie Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to Southern Heights United Methodist Church or the C. W. Parker Carousel Museum.