John George Edwards
John George Edwards, 78, of rural Hamilton, Kansas passed away Saturday, September 17, 2022 at the Eureka Nursing Center.
He was born June 9, 1944 in Eureka, Kansas the son of W. Tom and Ruth L. Schwab Edwards. John attended Hamilton High School and graduated with the Class of 1962. He would further his education at Flint Hills Vocational College where he earned his welding certification.
John married the love of his life, Jean M. Greenwood on July 3, 1965 at the Madison United Methodist Church. They would make their first home across the road from his family farm S.E. of Burkett. After five years John and Jean moved to their current farm where he raised his cattle and settled into the hard but rewarding life of being a rancher.
John could do just about anything. He added to his skill set when he bought a dozer and began hauling rock. He took pride in his ability to construct oil field roads and helped local families start their homes by digging numerous basements throughout the area.
John’s sense of community was evident in the many organizations that he chose to serve through. He has served on the Janesville Township Board, USD #390 Hamilton School Board, Greenwood County Soil Conservation Board, the Farm Service Agency Board, Farm Bureau Board and the Greenwood County Cattleman’s Board. John had also served as Chief of the Burkett Rural Fire Department and held membership with Jean at the Madison United Methodist Church. Other memberships included the Madison Masonic Lodge where he has served as Past Master, White Rose Chapter Order of The Eastern Star, Midian Shrine of Wichita, the Kansas Cattleman Association and the Kansas Livestock Association.
John will live on in the hearts and memories of his loving wife, Jean of their home; a daughter, Deann McCaffree and her husband Jarod of rural Eureka; a son D.J. Edwards and his wife Arlene of rural Hamilton; three grandchildren, Chance Bankson and his wife Tori, Colby Bankson and Jade Edwards; a sister, Tammy Bartel and husband Jeral of Cody, Wyoming; brother-in-law, Kenneth Wernli; numerous extended family and a community of close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, JoAnn Wernli.
Cremation was planned with memorial services being held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at the Madison United Methodist Church. The family received friends Monday evening from 5 until 7 p.m. at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the “Plane of Mercy Program” through the Midian Shrine or the Greenwood County 4-H Foundation Building Fund and sent in care of the VanArsdale Funeral Home at P.O. Box #488, Madison, Kansas 66860. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.