Edwina Kanis Atkinson

EDWINA KANIS ATKINSON peacefully passed on April 10, 2018, having lived a blessed, well loved, and full life of 90 years. Born April 7, 1928 as Edwina Carolyn Kanis to her parents Edward Kanis and Edwina Taubman Kanis at the Kanis property homesteaded by Ferdinand Kanis and his wife Whilhelmina "Minnie" in 1878, she was raised on the old family place with her two sisters, Emma Louise and Thoma. She had a delightful childhood, being raised on the family farm on what came to be known as Kanis Road. Edwina grew up with a love of Arkansas and the deep history of the family place and traditions. Graduating from what was then called Little Rock Central High School in 1945 at the age of 16, she then went on after working in Little Rock for a period (her father was not about to let her go off to University at 16!) to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She married Drexel B. Atkinson in 1947, who after serving in the US Army Air Force was also attending U of A. They went on to lead a far flung and adventurous life as Drexel pursued his law enforcement career over the years with the US Border Patrol, raising two sons Clifford and Drexel Atkinson (both of whom survive her), living in such places as southern Texas, northern Maine (and that was COLD for an Arkansas girl), New York, and southern Arizona. Wherever Edwina went she marked her time with her grace, a loving outlook, kindness, generosity, and humor. Her German roots served her and her family well. That heritage laced into her other qualities toughness, strength, grit, and commitment. Throughout her time she continued to be a committed and faithful Lutheran, to participate in social and charitable organizations such as the American Heart Association, and to look out for and try to help those less fortunate than her family. She was the epitome of a perfect daughter, wife, mother, and eventually grandmother. The family's travels and adventures were many and varied, and Edwina was always there, indefatigable, with her love, humor, and spirit. The story her husband Drexel told was that Edwina promised to be an uncomplaining Border Patrol wife, packing up the household and the kids and moving off to whichever US border the service sent them to on short notice, unpacking and doing it again, with but one condition: When they finally retired from the Border Patrol, Drexel promised they would return to the Kanis family place on Kanis Road in Little Rock!!!! And so they did in 1981. Drexel passed in 1989, and Edwina continued to live on the Kanis place until her death. In the meantime, she continued to appreciate the outdoor beauty of Arkansas, to love the family land she was raised on, and to be faithful to her God. Her grandchildren Alexander and Mackenzie, and her great-grandson Jordan Atkinson were devoted to her, and though living in New Mexico and Colorado, always came back "home" to visit their beloved grandmother and great grandmother, and saw her in the waning days of her final illness. The Good Lord took her home, where she has been reunited with her beloved husband Drexel and her parents, no doubt! All of us will miss her more than we can describe. How fortunate we and all she touched were to have had her among us all of these years! A funeral service will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W Markham St., Little Rock, on Saturday, April 14, 2018, beginning at 2 p.m. followed by burial at Roselawn Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.