John I. WanerNew Strawn, KS

John I. Waner, 89, passed away on September 3, 2026, at his home in New Strawn, Kansas.

John was born on January 9, 1937, in a small one-bedroom farmhouse in the Flint Hills along Martin Creek near Marion, Kansas. He arrived during a blizzard, and whenever anyone asked if he was cold, he would jokingly say he was “born cold.” John was the son of 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 September 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, Kansas, where he accepted a position with the sheriff’s office and was later 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, Kansas, to be closer to family.

John enjoyed bass fishing and hunting. He proudly held the Kansas spotted bass record for over a decade before it was eventually 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; one son, Ken and his wife, Laura; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

No services are planned currently. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

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