Kenneth D. “Ken” Shaheen, age 95, passed away September 6, 2025 at Regent Park Assisted Living Facility following a prolonged illness.
Ken was born August 28, 1930, in North Platte, NE to Mike and Mabel Shaheen. He graduated from Wichita North High School in 1947, attended the University of Wichita earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 1952 and a Master’s Degree in Music Education in 1959. He married the love of his life, Dolores Ruth Wilkinson, on February 29, 1952.
Ken spent the next forty years as a choral music director in Kansas public schools, including Pretty Prairie, Dighton, Haven, Campus High School in Haysville, and Director of Choral Music at Great Bend High School beginning 1963. In 1970 he became the Director of Choral Activities at Barton Community College (BCC) where he taught for twenty-two years.
Ken was the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) State President, Board Member, and Hall of Fame recipient. He was a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAFME), served as Kansas State Festival Choir Chairman and Community College Representative. Ken was a Board member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) receiving the Harry Robert Wilson Award. He held membership in the National Education Association (NEA). He retired from teaching in 1992.
Ken was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the First Christian Church in Great Bend, KS.
Ken enjoyed golfing, attending the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Golden Belt Community Concerts, and Wichita Chamber Chorale performances. Ken loved to travel visiting children and grandchildren as often as possible.
Ken is survived by his wife Dolores and three children, Michael (Michelle) Shaheen, James (Jeanne) Shaheen, and Linda (Scott) Allen, grandchildren Evan, Kyle, Larissa, Devin (Damon), Kaitlyn (Adam), Sarah (Isaac), and Hannah (Josh), and great-grandchildren Calvin, Carter, Olivia, Brody, Layla. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Toy (Edith), George (Irene), and sisters Madelia (Charles) Stevens, Gladys (Mike) Gibreal, Julia (Eli) Yanney, Marguerite (Dean) Lippincott, Eva (Phil) Coury, Martha (Marvin) Rouse, and Helen (Hugh) Magness.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 13, 2025, at First Christian Church, Great Bend, with Rev. Josh Leu officiating. Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 12, with family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials may be given to Golden Belt Community Concert Association in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530.