Frances Jean VanEaton Chrisler, a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed peacefully to be with our Lord, and her late husband Dale, on April 30, 2026. She passed away in Russell, KS at Wheatland Nursing home. Her beautiful smile would light up a room and her overwhelming love for her family would fill up the room. She was always speaking her mind and joking around with her children and grandchildren.
On June 9, 1926 Frances Jean VanEaton Chrisler was born to Glen and Louise (Jennings) VanEaton, in Burdette, KS. She was their first child of seven children. About seven years after she was born they moved to a farm in Logan County near Monument, KS. She attended Monument school which housed grade school through high school. Growing up she hated to be called by Frances and chose to be called Jean, and later Jeannie by close friends.
After graduating from Monument in 1944 she attended Marymount College in Salina, KS. She spent a year here earning her teacher’s certificate. Her first year of teaching was at her alma mater in Monument KS. Among her first students was her younger sister Mary Jo and her cousin Geraldine. Her next teaching job was in Russell, KS. Her younger cousins were disappointed in this as they wouldn’t get to have her as a teacher. She roomed with one of her teaching friends in Russell and said they ate all of their meals out. It was during this time that she traveled with her friends too. One of those trips was to Colorado where she and her friend ended up staying the whole summer and working for an older couple there that ran a diner.
During her summers she worked at the Russell Swimming pool. She was scared to death of the water, so she worked inside the building. One day a young man came in to go swimming with his friends. He had been in town riding horses with them. She told the girls she was working with that was the man for her. It was a few months later that Edna Lewis came in where she was eating one night with the said young man, who was Edna’s nephew, and introduced them. Jean had one of Edna’s sons in her class, so she was acquainted with her. She gave the young man her phone number and he called her asking her out on a date.
That young man was Oren Dale Chrisler who became the love of her life. Their first date was a concert with friends, and a later date was a picture show at the movie theater. On November 20, 1951, they were united in marriage at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Russell, KS. They started their life in Monument, KS. While living there two daughters were born Regina Adele and Glenna Lousie. Their next home was in Plainville, KS where their first-born son Christopher Alan Dale was born. Not even a year later they were living in Great Bend, KS where two more daughters were born. Janelda Jo and Tina Marie. Their next move was to Russell, KS where their youngest two were born. Monte Carlyle and Angela Linn. Six children in nine years and ten years later had their baby girl. Jean was the third generation to have five girls and two boys.
One of Jean’s passions was fishing, and they could often be found out at the river or the lake. She loved to fish and was always catching the big ones. One was so big one time it scared all of the kids, making them run. Her biggest passion was playing the card game Bridge, and she aimed for Life Master. Which she accomplished in Denver, Colorado at a big Bridge tournament. She traveled all over the States to attend the big tournaments which she loved. Of course, Dale was right there by her side through all of it. He played Bridge as well, but not in the big tournaments. There were lots of Bridge parties at their house with their friends over their years.
In the early 1980s. Dale, Jean, and Angie moved to Oakley, KS and bought the Hilltop Haven Paint and Quarter Horse Ranch, fulfilling a dream of Dale’s to have a horse ranch. In the early 90’s they sold the ranch and retired to Oakley, until moving to Russell at Wheatland Nursing home in January of 2022. Jean lost her husband Dale June 13, 2023, at Wheatland Nursing Home in Russell, after a prolonged illness.
Jean loved life and lived it to its fullest. She loved to spoil her ten grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She loved and adored all of them. Over the years she collected teapots and had loads of them. She was a stay at home mother and cooked the best meals. She loved to bake cakes for others for anything and everything. Always there for her siblings, children, grandchildren and friends who needed her. She’ll be greatly missed by one and all.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Oren Dale Chrisler; her parents Glen and Louise (Jennings) VanEaton; her in-laws Oren and Hettie Belle Chrisler; brother John VanEaton; brothers-in-law, Duane Chrisler, Junior Younker, Duane Davis, Dennis Sowers, and Mickey Smith; sister-in-law, Pat Chrisler; niece Laura Lea Thomas, and daughter-in-law Carma Lea (Geibler) Chrisler of Hays.
She leaves behind seven children, Regina Chrisler, Russell, Glenna (Ronald) Letsch, of Luray, Chris Chrisler, Hays, Janelda Jo Manning (Eddie), of Oakley, Tina Hekele (Joseph), Odin, KS, Monte Chrisler, Oakley and Angela Chrisler of Oakley; 10 grandchildren, Stacey Dumler (CJ), Mike Chrisler (Katie), Joseph Hekele (Traci), Jennifer Love (Michael), Julie Letsch, Beau Hekele (Char), Jenna Kelman (Matthew), Brady Chrisler (Lucas), Brett Chrisler (Sam), and Bailee Chrisler; great grandchildren, Javon Letsch, Brooklyn, Aiden and Lynden Hekele, Drew, Colin and Daxton Hekele, Brecken and Kash Kelman, Riley, Jethro, Thomas and Zane Chrisler, and Norah Lea Kramer; sisters, Margaret Ann Younker, Patricia Dawn Davis, Mary Jo Sowers, and Glennette Smith; brother Jerry VanEaton (Mary Lou); sister-in-law Deanna VanEaton; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass will take place at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oakley, with burial in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell for the Activity Fund, Oakley High School for a teaching scholarship or KRSL radio and mailed in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com
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