Marvin Wayne Akkerman

Marvin Wayne Akkerman was born on May 4, 1931, in De Smet, South Dakota to George and Lena (Spiecker) Akkerman. He passed away peacefully on February 5, 2026 at Sandpiper Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He graduated in 1949 from Salem High School in Salem, South Dakota.

Marvin proudly served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954 during the Korean War.

In 1956, he moved to Kansas with friends and attended Wichita Technical Institute. He soon began working at Beechcraft, where he dedicated 44 years of service before retiring in 1999.

On May 16, 1957, Marvin married Shirley Linn. They shared 42 years of marriage before Shirley’s passing on December 29, 1999. Shirley brought two sons, Michael and Gary Knowles, into the marriage. Together, Marvin and Shirley welcomed two daughters: Lynn Frazier in 1958 and Kym Akkerman in 1960.

Later in life, Marvin married Lois Gau, a high school classmate, on December 31, 2005. Marvin then relocated to Mapleton, Minnesota.

Marvin was preceded in death by five siblings; his wives, Shirley and Lois; sons Michael and Gary Knowles; granddaughters Aimee Lacy and Megan Frazier; and great-grandson Logan Schmidt.

He is survived by his daughters, Lynn Frazier of Whitewater, and Kym Akkerman and spouse Dawn Blue of Wichita; ten grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 2:00 with a visitation with the family at 1:00 p.m. at the Federated Church in Whitewater, KS 207 E. Central, Whitewater, KS . In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Kansas.