LaVon Wenger, former president of Wenger Manufacturing, passed away on 29 December 2024, at the age of 89. He was the son of Lou Wenger, one of the company’s founders.
LaVon began his career with Wenger Manufacturing in 1955 after studying engineering at Kansas State University. In 1977, he was named president and helped lead the company to international success. Known for his innovations in extrusion cooking technology, particularly in petfood processing, LaVon holds 44 US patents.
Wenger Manufacturing, founded in 1935 in Sabetha, Kansas, remains headquartered in the town. LaVon spent his life in Sabetha and was actively involved in local community organisations.
Scott Krebs, president of Wenger Group, praised LaVon’s contributions, stating that his innovations have become industry standards and that his legacy of care and respect continues to influence the company.
Wenger Manufacturing is the leading global supplier of extrusion cooking systems for the food, petfood, and aquatic feed industries and is a subsidiary of JBT Marel Corporation.