John Wendelin Smithhisler

John Wendelin Smithhisler, 87, of Manhattan since 2003, passed away Friday, February 27th, at the Good Shepherd Hospice House. He was a retired District Conservationist and a Resource and Soil Conservationist for the US Dept. of Agriculture until his retirement in 1986. John was born in Anthony, Kansas on July 14, 1927, the son of the late Mary Lidwina (Kastens) and John Edward Smithhisler. He was united in marriage to Rita Jean Downey on June 7, 1954 at the Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Manhattan, and she precedes him in death. After their marriage they moved to Ness City, KS until 1957 when they had the opportunity to move to Hawaii for 15 years and then to Illinois until his retirement in 1986. He graduated from Anthony HS in 1944, and KSU in 1953 with a Bachelors Degree in Agriculture, was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees) and the VFW. John served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a weather observer during WWII. John is survived by his son John W. Smithhisler, Jr, husband of Marsha of Dodge City; son Matthew L. Smithhisler husband of Patricia, of Manhattan; a daughter, Mary A. Salisbury and husband Sean of Bolingbrook, IL; daughter Judith L. Smithhisler, of Lake Villa, IL; and a son Peter D. Smithhisler, husband of Christina , of Zionsville, IN; a sister, Teresa A. Brooks wife of Jack of Halstead, a brother, Lonnie Smithhisler, of Macomb, IL; eleven grandchildren (John Patrick Smithhisler, Zachary Smithhisler, Leslee Smithhisler, Kaitlin Salisbury, Rebecca Gallo and husband Vincent, Maureen Salsbury, Erin Smithhisler, Jill Davis and husband Trevor, Olivia Smithhisler, Hadley Smithhisler). He is preceded in death by his parents, wife (Jean), two brothers ( Herman Smithhisler & Leland Smithhisler); one sister (Barbara Smithhisler) and granddaughter (Amy Rolak) Friends are invited to call on Sunday, March 1 from1:00 to 8:00pm, with a parish rosary/vigil service at 7:00pm at the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home & Cremation. On Monday, March 2nd, at 10:30am a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, burial will follow at Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan. The family request donations to the Good Shepherd Hospice House, 3801 Vanesta Dr or Manhattan Catholic Schools and sent in care of the funeral home.