John Leo McEachern
1937 - 2020
Obituary
A career educator, John Leo McEachern
passed away surrounded by his family at his home in Newton on April
28.
Born July 24, 1937, his early education
was in a one-room schoolhouse in Drury, Kan. His family subsequently
moved to Caldwell where he graduated from high school in 1955. In
1957, he graduated from Garden City Community College where he played
football on a scholarship and earned his associate of arts degree in
education. In 1960, he graduated with a bachelor of science in
education from Wichita State University. He received his Master of
Science degree in education from Pittsburg State University in 1963.
For 37 years, he taught industrial arts
in the Wichita Public Schools, the majority of that time at West High
School. He was a mentor to many of the students whose lives he
touched. He was devoted to his students and their success. With a
grant he secured in the early 1970s, McEachern launched a summer
program devoted to underprivileged students whose assignment was
painting their family homes.
McEachern enjoyed hunting, fishing,
woodworking, construction, gardening, traveling and spending winters
in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. His family ranked as his number one priority
and he focused on teaching his offspring key life long lessons and
instilling in them a strong work ethic. McEachern never met a
stranger and was well liked by those who knew him. He was known as a
jokester and a devoted Storyteller.
Though he and his wife of 62 years have
resided in Newton for the past four years, they previously lived in
Andover for 50 years. While there, he served as a member of the
Andover City Council and its Planning Board for several years.
The youngest of 13 children, he was
preceded in death by his parents, Malcom and Olive Gee MeEachern of
Caldwell, seven brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by his wife, Martha;
three children, Melinda (Steve) Walker and Tracy (Clay) McEwen of
Andover, and Dr. John (Jackie) McEachern of Newton; 13 grandchildren
and four great grandchildren.
He is also survived by three sisters,
Jean Reeves, Colbran, Co.; Elsie Joan Wilder,
Wichita; and Ethel Sparks, Caldwell.
A graveside service will be held at
Greenwood Cemetery in Newton, May 2, and will be limited to family
only, given current social distancing restrictions. A Celebration of
Life will occur at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
contributions to Newton Medical Center, 600 Medical Center Drive,
Newton, Kan. 67114 or Petersen Funeral Home.
