Jason C. Annis

Dr. Jason C. Annis, 81, of Manhattan, KS, passed away peacefully at University of Kansas Medical Center of natural causes on Thursday, November 24th, 2011. Dr. Annis was born July 11, 1930, in Minneapolis, MN, to Horace and Emma Annis. His father was a Copy Editor for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and his mother was a homemaker. Dr. Annis attended Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and graduated salutatorian of his class. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Mine Ventilation/Heating) from Michigan Tech. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State University and then accepted a teaching position where he taught for over 20 years. While at Kansas State, he met and married Patty Jean Smith, his wife of 45 years. She proceeded him in death in April of 2006. Dr. Annis was involved in many organizations throughout his life, including being Chairman of the Major Appliance Consumer Action Panel (MCAAP). He testified before a Senate sub-committee in Washington DC, with Ralph Nadar, and conducted many research projects. He was published in numerous journals and wrote many reports. Upon his retirement from teaching, Dr. Annis founded Annis Engineering Consulting of Manhattan. Jason had many interests and loves. He was an avid choral singer and piano player, and sung for a time with the Dale Warland Singers. He loved classical music and opera. He was well-read and stayed up on current events. He loved to debate the topics of the day and was a proponent of personal freedom and independence. He took pleasure in reading and writing and had a great respect for the editorial process. Jason loved to follow sports, especially boxing, football, baseball, basketball, golf, and horse racing. He was an avid horse enthusiast and cat lover. He loved celebrating his Irish heritage and traveled to Ireland, as well as across this country, many times with his wife and family. He loved to laugh and joke. He cared greatly about his friends and acquaintances and loved to talk with them about their lives. He attended First Lutheran Church in Manhattan. He is survived by his son, Judd Annis (Amy), of De Soto, KS, and his daughter, Dr. Melissa Parkhurst (Brian), of Lenexa, KS. He is also survived by four grandsons (Aiden, Dylan, Finton, and Tully), his horse Ben, and his cat Tiger. The family is requesting that donations be made to Mayo Clinic Foundation or the University of Kansas Cancer Center: Experimental Therapeutics Program. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, December 1, at First Lutheran Church in Manhattan, with burial following at the Sunrise Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 4pm to 6pm at the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home.