John F. Simons

John Frederick Simons, 84, died Monday, January 21, 2013 at the Centennial Homestead Nursing Home, Washington. A funeral service will be 2 p.m., Saturday, February 9, 2013 at the Morrowville Christian Church, Morrowville. Pastor John Leckliter will officiate. John was born on April 29, 1928, the oldest son of Frederick Linzy and Olive (Valentine) Simons in rural Rooks County, Kansas in the Survay community. When he was six, the family moved to a farm one mile north of Cawker City, KS. At the age of ten, he was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Cawker City. When he was 16, the family moved to Lovewell, KS, where John graduated from high school. The family moved to Hebron, NE, and John worked at the local sale barn, until he was called to the Army. He retired from the Army in 1974, after serving in both Korea and Vietnam. He was also stationed in France, Germany, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. On July 19, 1952, he and Alta M. Lovewell were united in marriage at Junction City, KS. To this union nine children were born. After retiring from the Army, John found pleasure in farming and gardening until his health started to fail. Preceding him in death were his parents; sons, Thomas Cecil Simons, Frederick Stephen Simons; daughter, Rosalie Renee Simons; brother Cecil Simons; and grandsons, Jeffrey Wayne Bjork and Brian Scott Simons. Surviving him is wife, Mary of Washington; children, Dale Ann Bjork of Marysville, Glenn Allen (Rozanne) Simons of Independence, MO, Happy John Simons, of Washington, Rose (Jim) Applegarth of Morrowville, Kathy Simons of Washington, Joni (Shannon) Meier of Mankato; brother, Robert Keith (Ada Rae) Simons of Belen, NM; and thirteen grandchildren. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John F. Simons, please visit our flower store.