John E. Workman...Age76

VISITATION: 6-8PM FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

SERVICE: 1:30PM SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013

BURIAL: OSAWATOMIE CEMETERY, OSAWATOMIE, KS

ALL SERVICES AT: EDDY-BIRCHARD FUNERAL HOME

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John E. Workman was born on July 19, 1936, on a small farm near Wea, Kansas, to Agnes and Earl Workman. When he was very young, they moved to Paola, Kansas, where John, his three sisters, and two brothers grew up. During his Paola years, John worked in his cousin’s bakery where his love for baking and decorating pastries began. Since his parents owned and operated a pool hall called Basement Recreation, sometimes called “The Rat Hole”, John began developing his pool skills.

After John graduated from Paola High School, he moved to the Kansas City area and began his career as a registered land surveyor. He also attended classes at Donelly College and Rockhurst University. He was married twice and was the father of three children. In addition to working as a surveyor, he worked in Putch’s 210 Restaurant and Jasper’s, where he learned to prepare the Ceasar’s salads, Steak Diane, Cherries Jubilee, and Bananas Foster that he was willing to prepare upon request for his family.

Two years after meeting Kay Platz Flanders at her parents’ New Year’s Eve party, John moved to Osawatomie, Kansas. In 1980, he married Kay and adopted her sons Andrew and Craig. John continued to work as a land surveyor and a carpenter. As a member of Carpenters’ Local 61, he laid out and did construction on K.U’s Leid Center, Johnson County Community College, Sprint Center, and several large high schools in the Kansas City area. After retirement from the carpenters’ union, he worked at Brown’s Hardware where he used his large bank of “fix it” skills to help customers meet their needs. John also served as Cub Scout Master and Boy Scout Master for his sons’ troops where he shared his cooking, camping, and outdoor skills and knowledge.

John’s hobbies included hunting, fishing, and playing pool on several APA Pool League teams. He especially enjoyed the title “Honest John” that was embroidered on one of his team shirts and often good naturedly referred to himself as Honest John. Then, of course, there were the beautiful wedding cakes and birthday cakes that he baked and decorated for family and friends just because he enjoyed doing it.

The things that put a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face because he was so proud of them were his son Craig’s teaching college classes, watching his grandson Henry play, and giving guided tours of the “little log cabin in the woods” that he, Craig, and Kay built.

John lost his long battle with Cancer on January 22, 2013, while staying at Golden Heights Living Center, in Garnett, Kansas. His cheery, tongue in cheek response of “mean, ornery, vicious, and cruel” when answering the question, “How are you,” will be greatly missed.

Preceded in death by: Earl & Agnes Workman (parents)
Thomas Joseph Workman (brother)
Earlene Joeckel (sister)
Harold Workman (brother)
Andrew Workman (son)

Survived by: Kay Workman (wife)
Craig (son) & Alissa Workman
Henry Workman (grandson)
Sullivan Workman (grandson)
Mary Smith (sister)
Robert (brother) & Anna Workman
Loretta (sister) & Tom Crozier