Arthur "Art" Blankenship

Arthur “Art” Blankenship passed away on August 21, 2026, at his home in Overland Park, Kansas at the age 69. He was born in Ottawa, Kansas in 1956 and spent his entire childhood living on the family farm in Rantoul, Kansas, where he was raised with his older brother and sister.

Art was a graduate of Wellsville High School and received his Bachelor of Science in Business from Emporia State University in 1979. Art was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and worked hard all throughout college, working in construction while attending classes full time. After graduating, he was able to buy his first house that he worked on himself at that company.

In 1988, Art started dating the love of his life, Cindy Naegele. They were married the following year, on June 10, 1989, in Wellsville, Kansas. Art and Cindy welcomed their son Gavin in 1991 and in 1993 they bought their current home in Overland Park, Kansas. Art loved sitting on the back patio, admiring their beautiful gardens and birdwatching with his morning coffee (and his happy hour cocktail).

Art went on to have an incredibly successful sales career, spending 25 of those years until his retirement at M&H and Kennedy Valve. Not only was he continuously awarded for his outstanding sales, he also made lasting friendships with everyone from coworkers to clients.

A true farm boy, Art loved hunting, fishing, camping, and riding around the farm on his side by side, especially with his son Gavin. He took many memorable hunting trips throughout his life with his brother Sid.

Art and Cindy took numerous trips all over the world with their wonderful family and friends. They were a part of Vantasia Van Club for nearly 20 years, attending events all across the United States and making lifelong friends and memories.

Anyone that knew Art knows what an amazing man he was. His joy and sense of humor was infectious, and he could truly make friends with anyone. He loved his friends and family fiercely and leaves behind the legacy of his greatest joy, his twin granddaughters, Harper Joy and Ellie Kay.

Art is preceded in death by his parents Betty (Phares) and Everett Blankenship.

Art is survived by his wife Cindy Blankenship, sister Cathy Breithaupt, brother Sidney Blankenship, son Gavin (Cody) Blankenship, and his granddaughters, Harper Joy Blankenship and Ellie Kay Blankenship.

A celebration of Art’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Kidney Fund in Art’s name.