John Lauren Stanley passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2020, at the age
of 72 in Kansas City, KS with his wife and children by his side. He was
born November 29, 1947, in Phillips, WI to Norman and Dorothy (Hayes)
Stanley. John married Linda Kinser on July 27, 1969, in Oberlin KS.
They had four children, Chad, Chanda, Chaylene, and Christina, eleven
grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
After graduating high school in 1965, John enlisted in the United
States Army where he proudly served his country from 1966 to 1968. He
always took great pride in the time he served and continued to love his
country each and every day until he died. He remained connected to his
unit, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment whom he served with in Vietnam
from 1966-1967 at the Blackhorse Base Camp. John started working around
the age of 13 in cafes in Oberlin, but after serving in the US Army,
John had several different jobs, including Kansas DOT, Western Auto,
Safeway, Decatur Feed Yard, and then Don’s Supermarket where he spent
many years that he greatly enjoyed. He then worked as outdoor
maintenance at the schools, Sappa Valley Youth Ranch, Juvenile Justice
where he transported youth. His final and probably most loved job was
as a school bus driver for USD #294 where he often said that he would
actually pay them to let him drive. He officially retired from that job
at the age of 62.
John was the biggest sports fan throughout his entire life. While
he played football, wrestled, and competed in track in high school, he
continued to love to play softball with his brothers and sister during
his younger adult years. He was a fan of all DCHS sports, where he was
an announcer at wrestling matches and football games. He enjoyed
playing golf with his family and friends, coached youth ball teams, and
Legion baseball, and spent many of his summers umpiring both youth and
adult ball games.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Linda, his son, Chad and wife
Susan, daughters, Chanda Fleckenstein and husband Leonard, Chaylene
Buzard and husband Andrew, Christina Green and husband Eric, his 11
grandchildren - Addeson and Ryder Stanley, Emily and Hannah
Fleckenstein, Mickey Ann and Hunter Kriegh, Haisly Buzard, and Malilah,
Mason, Madilyn, and Maddix Green, and one great-granddaughter, Amelia
Scheneman. He is preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Dorothy
Stanley, his brothers, Richard, Dale and Kenneth Stanley, his
parents-in-law Joseph and Josephine (Von Schuetz) Kinser, brother-in-law
Timothy Kinser, and sister-in-law Kay (Kinser) Reedy. John loved his
family deeply and continued to welcome new family members with open arms
believing that the last one was just as precious as the first. He had a
great love for his friends, his community, and his country.
Visitation will be from 1-7:00 pm Thursday, November 12, 2020 at
Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin, KS. Family will receive guests from
5:00-7:00 pm. A public graveside service with military honors will be
held at 3:00 pm Friday, November 13, 2020 at the Oberlin Cemetery with a
dinner following at the Gateway. A memorial fund has been set up in
John’s name to support the Decatur County High School Athletic
Department. Donations can be made to Pauls Funeral Home, ℅ John Stanley
Memorial Fund, 121 North Penn Avenue, Oberlin, KS, 67749. Condolences
may be left at www.paulsfh.com