Kent Schnakenberg made a lot of days brighter for a lot of people afflicted with Type 1 diabetes over the last 10-plus years.
Schnakenberg passed away Thursday after a head trauma incident at his home Wednesday, according to family. Schnakenberg was first taken to Newman Regional Health before being transferred to Wichita’s Wesley Medical Center.
Schnakenberg had a lengthy career at Navrats Office Supply and he retired from Navrats earlier this year, but the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes for his niece Michelle in 2013 changed his life path. Schnakenberg and his wife, Natalie, developed Team Schnak Strong the following year as a way to raise funds and bring attention to the disease. The Schnakenbergs then criss-crossed the country repeatedly toward that end since 2014, generating funds for equipment and patient trips to Camp Discovery in Kansas.
KVOE General Manager Ron Thomas says ending juvenile diabetes became Schnakenberg’s life work.
Team Schnak was not in the Emporia Community Foundation Match Day fundraiser this year, but it had repeatedly raised the most money for diabetes research, equipment and awareness in the years it was involved. Emporia Community Foundation Director Loni Heinen called Schnakenberg a “gem” of the Match Day family who went above and beyond not only for his own cause, but for the causes of others as well.
Heinen added his desire to support and raise up others was not limited just to Match Day, but extended to the entire community.
In addition to his work with Match Day, Schnakenberg was also heavily involved in promoting Ron’s Ride, KVOE General Manager Ron Thomas’ annual fundraising ride to benefit Special Olympians taking part in the annual State Games.
Schnakenberg was also instrumental in the development of the annual Field Day for clients of Hetlinger Developmental Services. Hetlinger Director of Development Josh Blaisdell says the one thing that was always readily apparent about Schnakenberg was his passion for others, and the field day was just another example of this.
Former Hetlinger Director Jill Burton says one of the most remarkable things about Schnakenberg was his ability to “include everybody” with any event he took part in.
Burton adds that Schnakenberg had a unique ability to make everyone around him feel like a part of the “bigger picture.”
Funeral services are pending.
