IN MEMORIAM

EXPANDED EULOGIES

“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased largely as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.

John Waner

A celebration of life will be scheduled later for John I. Waner, 89, who passed away Sept. 3, 2026, at his home in New Strawn.

John was born Jan. 9, 1937, in a small one-bedroom farmhouse in the Flint Hills along Martin Creek near Marion. He arrived during a blizzard, and whenever anyone asked whether he was cold, he would jokingly say he was “born cold.”

John’s parents were John H. and Irma M. (Allen) Waner. He was raised on the family farm east of Marion and graduated from Marion High School in 1955.

On Sept. 10, 1957, John married Rose Marie Holub. Together, they raised three children.

John began his career with the Newton Police Department before moving to Olathe, where he accepted a position with the sheriff’s office and later was promoted to detective.

He then joined Mobil Oil as a credit card investigator and eventually became head of security for the Mobil Oil refinery in Beaumont, Texas, where he retired.

After retirement, John and Rosie moved to Lake Fork Reservoir in Alba, Texas, before later relocating to New Strawn to be closer to family members.

John enjoyed bass fishing and hunting. He proudly held the Kansas spotted bass record for more than a decade before it eventually was broken.

He also learned taxidermy and became very skilled at preserving birds and fish from the 1950s through the 1980s. His children still have some of his work today.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Irma Waner, and his brothers, Eugene and Larry Waner.

John is survived by his wife, Rose Marie; two daughters, Becky and her husband, Wayne, and Kristie and her husband, Marv; a son, Ken and his wife, Laura; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.