John W. Kisslinger was born April 13th, 1932 the son of Herman and Catherine (Flax) Kisslinger. He passed away at Rhode Island Suites in Ransom on December 2nd, 2018 at the age of 86 surrounded by family.

John grew up in rural Trego county northeast of Ransom and attended Cyrus school. He served in the United States Army and on June 2, 1955 he married Barbara Ummel.

To this union seven children were born, Judy (Allen) Montgomery, Ransom, Linda (Craig) Stith, Dodge City, Ronald (Linda) Kisslinger, Oklahoma City, OK, Myron (Becki) Kisslinger, Wakeeney, Brenda (Jimmie) Montgomery, Hutchinson, Harold (Lori) Kisslinger, Ransom and Dorothy (Randy) Gideon, Wakeeney. He and Barbara made their home in rural Ness county near Brownell for 44 years before moving to Ransom in 1999 .

John was a farmer, stockman, mechanic and had a talent to make and fix anything. This talent was passed on to his three sons. He loved little children, especially babies and couldn’t wait to hold the grandchildren. He had a great sense of humor and was a jokester. He and his nephew Darrin worked hard to see who could pull the largest prank on each other, whether it be gluing gloves or shoelaces together. He loved polka music and was talented at playing the accordion and harmonica; he and Barbara shared one last make shift dance to their wedding song, the Blue Skirt Waltz on the evening of December 1st.

John is survived by his wife Barbara of the home, his seven children, 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren, his sister Regina Schuster, Wakeeney, Rosetta Healy, Ness City, and Berniece Blakely, Hays. He is proceeded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Ambrose, Paul and Joe and 4 sisters, Betty Casey, Frances Casey, Rosalie Smith and Ann Pfannenstiel.

The vigil service will be at the Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Wednesday in Ness City at 6:30 p.m.. Funeral services will be held at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Ransom on Thursday December 6th, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. with burial to follow at the Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery in Wakeeney.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Ransom, the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.