Jack L. Franklin

Jack Franklin passed away peacefully June 22, 2025, at Heritage Health Care in Chanute, Kansas. Jack was born June 29, 1935, near Stark, Kansas to Virgil and Tracy (Hunziker) Franklin. Jack attended grade school in Kimball, Kansas and graduated from Elsmore High School, Elsmore, Kansas, in 1953.

In November of 1953, Jack enlisted in the United States Marine Corp (USMC), Jack completed boot camp at Camp Pendleton, California, and was shipped out to Korea where he served as a Communication Specialist during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged at the level of Sergeant and returned to Kansas in 1956.

In 1955, while Jack was home on military leave, he went to a carnival in Iola, there he met a beautiful, freckled-faced farm girl from Moran named Beverly McAdam. Jack and Beverly were married February 3, 1957, in Moran, Kansas.

After his discharge from the USMC, Jack commenced his college education at Allen County Community College and Kansas State College of Pittsburg, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. Jack worked in the construction industry after college, first for McAdam Construction and then Freeto Construction. Eventually he changed his career path and spent the rest of his professional career as a salesman, spending twenty plus years with Martin Tractor as a Caterpillar heavy equipment representative.

Jack retired from Martin Tractor in 1986, and he and Beverly purchased Moore Oil Co. where he enjoyed serving the Allen County farming community, local industry, as well as county and state governments with bulk fuel. During this time, Jack also enhanced his true love of farming and as he and Beverly purchased more acres for their operation. As a true "Jack of all Trades", Jack also acquired his real estate and auctioneering licenses and began both of those professions, crying sales, first under Ralph Smith Auctions and then under Allen County Auction Services. He especially enjoyed crying the 4-H livestock auction at the Allen County Fair. He truly loved both real estate and auctions and even enjoyed hearing about them all the way up to the time of his passing.

During their 68 plus years of marriage, Jack and Beverly raised three daughters. Jack was passionate about his girl's activities and spent many hours on the road pulling a horse or cattle trailer, taking a truck load of softball girls to DQ after a big win, and being the local 4-H Horse Club Leader (Allen County Rough Riders) who drove the caravan to the American Royal each year. Jack's passion for raising a good family didn't cease with his three girls, as five grandchildren were blessed with lots of wonderful support from their Grandpa Jack at many of the same activities he did with their moms.

Jack had many favorite pastimes beyond family, farming, auctioning and real estate. Those included playing cards & dominos, trap shooting and fishing. Jack was a Member of the Iola Masion Lodge #38, Mirza Shrine, Hardly Able Shriner Parade Fire Truck Crew, a 33-year Board of Director of Deer Creek Water Shed Committee for Allen and Anderson Counties, Allen County Community College Board Member, USD 257 Board Member, Wesley United Methodist Church Member, Allen County 4-H Leader, National Cutting Horse Association Member, Allen County Friends of 4-H award recipient, Kansas Bankers Association Award for Soil Conservation recipient, a major supporter of the local rural fire department, an Iola City Commissioner, and a Korean War Veteran

Jack was proceeded in death by his parents Virgil and Tracy Franklin, brother Wilford (Barbra) Franklin, sisters Colleen (Edgar) George, Patricia (Raymond) Johnson and infant sister Stella.

Jack is survived by his wife Beverly, three daughters, Jacquelin (Greg) McIntyre, Iola, Jennifer (Neal) Horning of Marion, Iowa, and Jeanine (Bryant) Slaughter, of Hempstead, Texas. Five grandchildren, Zack (Kady) McIntyre, Yates Center, Ashton (Brandon) Birk, Gridley, JeNeal Horning, Anamosa, Iowa, JaLea Horning, Marion, Iowa, Lexington Slaughter, Bryan, Texas. And his "Greats" four great-grandchildren, Zoey McIntrye, Kline McIntyre, Jaxen Birk and Heston Birk. His siblings Jerry (Sonja) Franklin, Wichita, Kansas and Robert (Donna) Franklin, Overland Park, Kansas, as well as many loving nieces and nephews. Jack is survived by two SPECIAL PEOPLE who provided unwavering daily physical and emotional care to him, Janet Wilson and Jeff Adams. The Jack Franklin Family appreciates and loves you for your special kindness.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025, in The Venue at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola, Kansas. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at Wesley United Methodist Church, Iola, Kansas. Burial with military honors and Masonic Rites will follow in Highland Cemetery, Iola, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church or Mirza Shriners Transportation for Children, and may be left with Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Highway 54, Iola, Kansas.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.

The funeral service on Saturday, June 28, will be livestreamed by Feuerborn Family Funeral Home. A link to the livestream will be posted prior to the funeral service.