Jack Franklin

Jack Franklin passed away peacefully Sunday, June 22, 2025, at Heritage Health Care in Chanute. Jack was born June 29, 1935, near Stark to Virgil and Tracy (Hunziker) Franklin. He attended grade school in Kimball and graduated from Elsmore High School 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 Feb. 3, 1957, in Moran.

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 20-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 as he and Beverly purchased more acres for their operation.

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 with 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 girls’ activities and spent many hours on the road pulling a horse or cattle trailer, taking a truckload 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 girls. His five grandchildren also 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 and dominos, trap shooting and fishing. Jack was a member of the Iola Mason Lodge No. 38, Mirza Shrine, Hardly Able Shriner Parade Fire Truck Crew, a 33-year board of directors member of Deer Creek Watershed 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 preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Tracy Franklin; brother Wilford (Barbra) Franklin; sisters Colleen (Edgar) George, Patricia (Raymond) Johnson and infant sister Stella.

He is survived by his wife Beverly; 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; his “Greats,” four great-grandchildren, Zoey McIntrye, Kline McIntyre, Jaxen Birk and Heston Birk; siblings Jerry (Sonja) Franklin, Wichita, and Robert (Donna) Franklin, Overland Park, 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 is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 27, in The Venue at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday,  at Wesley United Methodist Church, Iola. Burial with military honors and Masonic Rites will follow in Highland Cemetery, Iola.

Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church or Mirza Shriners Transportation for Children, and may be left with the funeral home.

Saturday’s service will be livestreamed by the funeral home, which will post the link prior to the service.