John “Jack” Thomas LaForge, 84, of Pittsburg, KS, peacefully passed away on Aug. 21, 2024, at Ascension Via Christi Village.
He was born on Nov. 13, 1939, in Girard, Kansas, to Edward and Gertrude (Diskin) LaForge. Jack spent his early years in Greenbush, Kansas, and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1957. After high school, he moved to Plymouth, Michigan, where he worked for Foremen Bros. delivering mail. He later returned to Parsons and worked for LaForge & Budd Construction. He then met his best friend and the love of his life, Judy Farrell.
In 1962, Jack joined the United States Air Force, where he was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. During his service, he played with the Wiesbaden Flyers and was known as an accomplished baseball player. After his honorable discharge in 1965, Jack returned to Parsons, KS, where he married “Judy Kay” the same year. He resumed his work in construction until his father-in-law, Jay Farrell, introduced him to the convenience store business. Jack managed stores in Parsons, Pittsburg, and eventually co-owned one in Frontenac with his brother, Pat, until his retirement. In 1998, Jack entered a partnership with Art Goodsel to start a hunting lodge in South Dakota called “LaGoDa Wings.”
An accident involving lightning injuries curtailed his ability to navigate the terrain. Jack met many great hunters and was renowned for his sharpshooting and storytelling skills. He also played fast pitch with Oswego Merchants and Kansas Mobile Homes and slow pitch with Knights of Columbus and Jock's Nitch tournament. Jack traveled extensively for fishing, with trips to Brazil, Venezuela, Canada, Columbia, Alaska, Michigan, Mexico, Honduras, and Panama.
Jack is survived by his wife of the home, daughter Jackie Maier (Jerry) of Loma Linda, MO; son-in-law Jeff Tankersley (Jessica) of Olathe, KS; brother-in-law John Godfrey (Jan) of New Orleans, LA; Pat (Kay) of Bella Vista, AR; sister-in-law Bernice LaForge of Kansas City, KS; four granddaughters: Jessica French (Adam) of Wichita, KS, Melanie Ebner, Rachel Tankersley (Randy) of Lee Summit, MO, Kate Tankersley of Olathe, KS; and two great-grandchildren, Jackson and Olivia French of Wichita, KS, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter Lynne Tankersley; and his grandson Dylan Tankersley; four brothers: Paul LaForge, Bernard LaForge, Pat LaForge, and Bill LaForge; and four sisters: Roberta Padgett, Marilyn Vitt, Jane Coomes, and Phyllis McAtee.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Michael Simone as celebrant. A parish rosary will be recited at 1:30 pm prior to the mass at the church. Interment will follow at Highland Park Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers include the Knights of the Round Table Gang.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Knights of Columbus or Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial fund; these may be mailed or dropped off at the funeral home, 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may call after 12 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. Arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home.
