Jack Stauffer

Jack Stauffer went to be with Our Lord on October 14, 2018 surrounded by his family; he was at his home under the care of his family and Hospice.

Jack was born on December 24, 1926 in Ephrata, Pennsylvania to Aaron O. and Leah (Sensenig) Stauffer. At age two, Jack's mother became ill and he went to live with an Old Order Mennonite family who drove horse and buggy.  Jack attended a one-room school house until eighth grade, when he was required to leave school and help on the family farm.  Jack regretted having to leave school; he had a lifelong love of learning and began educating himself by reading countless books.  As a teenager, Jack went to live with the Omar Zook family of Oley, Pennsylvania to work on their large farm.  The Zook family treated Jack like part of their family.

After World War II, Jack took two trips overseas to Greece and The Holy Land, delivering mules to help with the rebuilding process from the destruction of war. Upon returning to the United States, Jack joined Mennonite Voluntary Service where he served in Gulfport, Mississippi.  There he met the love of his life, Linda Schmidt.  He often reminisced that when he met Linda, he immediately knew that he would marry her.  In spite of having an eighth grade education, Jack entered the Philadelphia Bible College, where he began a long distance courtship, and ultimately became engaged, with Linda by letter.  In July of 1954, Jack came to Kansas to marry Linda; this was the first time he had been to Kansas and also the first time he met Linda's parents.  He resided in Kansas ever since.  Jack and Linda were married at Tabor Mennonite Church, Goessel, Kansas, with Linda's dad, H.B. Schmidt officiating on July 15, 1954.

Jack and Linda moved to Newton; Jack worked full-time supporting his growing family while attending Bethel College in North Newton where he graduated in 1965. Jack worked in sales at Hilts, Inc. for many years, traveling across central and western Kansas.  After retiring, he began buying houses, remodeling them and then renting to families.  He enjoyed doing this, often saying he wished he would have done this during all of his working years. 

Jack was active in the Harvey County Democratic Committee, serving as Secretary-Treasurer. He was dedicated to Habitat for Humanity, donating land for homes to be built on.  He was a member of the Newton Lions Club and the National Gold Wing Association.  He was a member of Faith Mennonite Church, Newton. Once a week, while physically able, Jack delivered meals to people through the “meals on wheels” program.

Jack loved his family first. He loved to read, travel and ride his Gold Wing motorcycle. Jack took many trips across the United States on his Gold Wing cruiser. He and Linda took many trips across the United States and to Canada and Europe.  His dream was to return to the Holy Land; he and Linda traveled there for their 25^th anniversary. He had strong political views, writing many letters to the Kansan and other newspapers across the United States.  He received numerous letters and phone calls from people responding to his letters, making many friends across country.

Survivors include his loving and faithful wife, Linda (Schmidt); his children, Ron (Kathy) Stauffer of Overland Park; Sharon Goering of Wichita; Carolyn Stauffer of Newton; Debbie (Russ) Wedel of Hutchinson; Ruth (Eric) Calbert of North Newton; Tim (Margaret) Stauffer of Kansas City, Missouri. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, Mike Goering (who was also his caretaker for the last year); Kristin (Brian) McGuirk of Providence, Rhode Island; Brett Wedel and fiance Katrina Horner of Providence, Rhode Island; Emily Wedel and fiance Ryker Williams of Manhattan, Kansas; Tara (Tim) McCreedy of Newton; Jared (Alyssa) Calbert of Wichita; Jamie Holladay of Newton; Regan Stauffer of Overland Park; Abby Stauffer and Chloe Stauffer of Kansas City, Missouri; and four great-grandchildren:  Julianna and Jenna Coppenbarger; Newton; Cody Caraway, Newton and Everett McCreedy, Newton.   He is also survived by his sisters, Lois (Harvey) Thiessen of Hesston and Mary Jane (Charles) Rutter of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and one brother, Alfred (Ruth Ann) Stauffer of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother, Mary G. Stauffer; a brother, Enos and sisters, Katie Stauffer, Elizabeth Burkhart and Eva Fox of Pennsylvania and Verna Musser of Florida.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday (October 20, 2018) at the Faith Mennonite Church in Newton.

The family will receive friends at the church Friday evening between 6:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity or Mennonite Central Committee.

Contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Ks. 67114.

Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.