JACK L. ESHELBRENNER

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Jack L. Eshelbrenner, 84, a long time resident of Fort Scott, died Monday morning, Jan. 14, 2008, at Garden Terrace of Overland Park, Kansas.

He was born July 22, 1923 in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Carl W. and Sophia M. (Leitz) Eshelbrenner, Sr. He married Sara Viola Handly on March 16, 1945, in Wichita, Kansas. She preceded him in death April 19, 2007.

He graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1942, and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Rising Sun Masonic Lodge No. 8 A.F. and A.M., Fort Scott Scottish Rite Bodies, and the H.P.A. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America while his son was growing up. Jack served as City Commissioner for the city of Fort Scott for over 2 years, and was active in many areas of the city and community.

He, along with his father Carl, and brothers Albert and Bill, operated the Fort Scott Packing Company until 1970. Jack then purchased several local insurance agencies and operated the Eshelbrenner Insurance Agency until 1990.

Jack is survived by a son, Robert J. Eshelbrenner of Caledonia, Michigan, three daughters; Sally Steckler of Kansas City, Mo., Lyn Hixon of Brentwood, Tenn., and Jara Martin of Fort Scott, three brothers; Albert Eshelbrenner of Pittsburg, Kansas, Bill Eshelbrenner, Fort Scott, Kansas, and Robert D. Eshelbrenner, of Fort Scott, three sisters; Helen Harper, of Uniontown, Kansas, Joan Mills, of Sterling, Colo., and Mary Sue O'Keefe of Fort Scott, Kansas, 10 grandchildren; Kristin Tate, Monica Szewczyk, Erin Green, Kate Sowder, Andrew Hixon, Sara Hixon, Breann Martin, Sherise Martin, Sophia Martin, Emily Martin, and seven great-grandchildren; Brooke and Jordin Tate, Alexis and Lyza Szewczyk, Eleanor and Jack Green, and Nate Sowder. In addition to his wife, Sara, he was preceded in death by his parents, a brother; Carl W. Eshelbrenner, Jr., and two sisters; Esther Hoskins and Betty Scott.

The Rev. Steve MacArthur will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, at the First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott, Kansas, with burial following at the Fort Scott National Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday evening, Jan. 17, 2008, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Scholarship Fund, and left in care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701. Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to the family at expressions@konantz-cheney.com.