Michael K Davis

April 20, 1950 — March 11, 2026

Newton

Michael Keith Davis passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, after a life defined by dedication to family, service to others, and a deep passion for the things he loved. He was born in 1950 in Beloit, Kansas, and raised in Asherville, Kansas alongside his sister Joan (Davis-Carpenter) and cousin Jim (Bill) Pashek, forming bonds that remained important throughout his life. Mike graduated from Newton High School in 1968.

Following high school, Mike attended the University of Kansas from 1968 to 1971, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi fraternity and developed a lifelong devotion to Jayhawk athletics. He met some of the best friends of his life during this time and carried those relationships for decades. He later completed his education at Bethel College, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 1979.

In 1978, Mike began dating Linda Hwa, the woman who would become his partner in life and business. They married in 1981 and built a loving family together. Their daughter, Kendra, was born in 1985, followed by their son, Cole, in 1987. In the early 1990s, Mike and Linda also informally welcomed Wildy Mulatre, then a student at Hesston College and Bethel College, into their family, offering guidance and support that reflected Mike’s generous spirit. He also enjoyed being an uncle to his niece and nephew, Shawna and Chad.

Mike’s career began in construction with Rhoades Construction, where he gained valuable experience and built a reputation for hard work. In 1993, he and Linda founded Hwa Davis Construction and Supply, a highway construction company they successfully operated together for 25 years.

Outside of work, Mike was known for his many passions. He was an avid hunter and a proud enthusiast of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He enjoyed time with friends, from skiing/snowboarding trips to attending baseball games across the country. He also found great joy in aviation and fulfilled a dream of owning and piloting a sailplane, along with joining the board of the Sunflower Soaring Foundation. His efforts helped support a new soaring center building at the Sunflower Gliderport in 2019, that will be enjoyed by members for years to come.

Mike was also deeply committed to service and community. He was an active member of Trinity Heights United Methodist Church from the 1980s through the early 2000s. Through the church and his personal efforts, he participated in mission trips to Zimbabwe and Haiti, helping raise funds and collect supplies for communities in need. He worked to support St. Therese’s Hospital in northern Haiti and personally delivered aid following the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake. He was honored to support an ongoing relationship between the Bethel College Nursing Program and St. Therese’s Hospital that facilitates international service-learning opportunities for students.

A defining part of Mike’s life was his sobriety, which he maintained for more than 40 years, offering inspiration and encouragement to others along the way.

Mike remained a passionate supporter of Kansas Jayhawks athletics—especially basketball, but also football, volleyball, and baseball—rarely missing an opportunity to cheer on his beloved Jayhawks.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; his children, Kendra and Cole; sister, Joan Davis-Carpenter; niece, Shawna Carpenter; nephew, Chad Carpenter; cousin, Jim (Bill) Pashek; grandchildren, Amelia and Elias Hwa Davis, Xia Dostert, JoAnne and Michael Jr. Mulatre; and the extended family and friends who held such important places in his heart. Above all, Mike will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, mentor, and friend whose generosity, resilience, sense of adventure and love of inappropriate jokes touched many lives.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Keith and Joy Davis; his step-mother, Francis Davis; and his adopted son, Wildy Mulatre.

A Celebration of Life will be from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 at Dyck Arboretum, 177 W Hickory St, Hesston, KS. The celebration will be informal, with an opportunity to share stories and memories at 11:30 a.m. and lunch following. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mike’s name to Sunflower Soaring Foundation, 911 N Gilman, Wichita, KS 67203 or Wildy Mulatre Nursing Scholarship, Bethel College, 300 E 27th St., North Newton, KS 67114, and left in the care of Petersen Funeral Home in Newton.