John Robert Brinkley, 73, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away on May 24, 2026.

John was born on December 21, 1952, in Anthony, Kansas, to Leroy “Dean” Brinkley and Cletus (Schwanz) Brinkley. He was preceded in death by both of his parents.

On April 29, 1973, John married Madelyn Morris, beginning a marriage and partnership that lasted more than five decades. Through every stage of life, Madelyn was his steady companion and greatest supporter as they raised their two daughters, Sara and Lindsay, and built a home filled with laughter, love, and strong family values. John took great pride in supporting and coaching his daughters throughout their athletic careers, and together he and Madelyn encouraged and supported numerous local teams and community activities over the years.

As a very young boy, John and his family moved to Winfield, Kansas, where he was educated and would spend the rest of his life. At the age of 23, he became a small business owner, operating Automatic Coin alongside his wife, Madelyn. Together, they built not only a successful business, but a life grounded in hard work, loyalty, and commitment to their family and community.

John lived life with energy and enthusiasm. An accomplished athlete, he completed many marathons and triathlons, always embracing the next challenge with determination and grit. He was also an avid outdoorsman with a lifelong love of animals and adventure. His travels and hunting experiences took him across North America, Africa, New Zealand, and South America, providing stories and memories he loved to share with family and friends. He also enjoyed countless fishing trips with great friends in Canada, the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, and Costa Rica — experiences that became some of his most cherished memories and stories.

To know John was to know laughter. He was funny, generous, and famously ornery, always ready with a practical joke, a quick wit, or one of his unforgettable stories from the outdoors. His personality filled a room, and his generosity could be seen in the countless ways he gave his time, support, and friendship to others throughout his life.

Despite his many accomplishments and adventures, John’s greatest pride was always his family. He treasured time spent with those he loved and took great pride in watching his family grow through the years.

He is survived by his wife, Madelyn Brinkley; his daughter, Lindsay McKanna and her husband Jason McKanna of the Kansas City area, and their children, Colton and Caden McKanna; his daughter, Sara Pike and her husband Brian Pike of the Kansas City area; his sister, Cledean Jones and her husband Vernon Jones of Plano, Texas; his sister, Michelle Leeper and her husband Fred Leeper of Douglass, Kansas; his nieces and nephews, Jason Jones of Coppell, Texas, and Jennifer Greenwald of McKinney, Texas, Emily Leeper of Douglass, Kansas, and Randy Mantler and Jessica Goodell, both of Alaska.

John will be remembered as a devoted husband, proud father and grandfather, successful businessman, accomplished athlete, outdoorsman, storyteller, and loyal friend. Above all, he will be remembered for the full and adventurous life he lived, the generosity he showed others, and the laughter he brought everywhere he went.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Miles Funeral Service. Private family interment will take place at a later date.

A memorial has been established in John’s name for the Winfield Recreation Commission. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.