1930
Mr.
2009
Mr. John Huff
July 31, 1930 — April 8, 2009
John R Huff (Jack), 78, of Lenexa, KS was called to his heavenly home Wednesday, April 8, 2009. He was born July 31, 1930 in Steinauer, NE, the son of the late Maurice and Dorothea Huff.
He graduated from Fairbury High School in 1949 where he lettered in basketball and football. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served with the Helicopter Squadron One (HU-1), earning the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal. After the Navy he attended Fairbury College studying pre-engineering and played center, #61, for the "Bombers" football team. He graduated with his bachelors degree in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1960 where he was a member of Sigma Tau, national honorary engineering fraternity.
After college he began work for the Bureau of Public Roads, which later became the Federal Highway Administration, where he met his wife Donna Bell of 41 years. During his time with the FHA he worked on projects in American Samoa and Saudi Arabia. He worked for the FHA for 33 years before retiring in 1993.
Being an avid golfer, post retirement he worked and volunteered at Falcon Ridge and Overland Park Golf courses. He was a member of the American Legion and an enthusiastic coin collector. He was well read and always eager to share his political opinions and point of view.
He is preceeded into Heaven by his daughter Amanda Smith, brother and sister-in-law, William and Betty Huff and sister Margaret Meirath. John is survived by his wife Donna, Lenexa, KS; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Michael Kuehnen, Olathe, KS; daughter Alison Huff, Liberty, MO; grandchildren, Zachary Foster, Hannah Smith, Jeremy Kuehnen, Luke Smith, Jakob Kuehnen and Josef Kuehnen; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom and Jeanne Huff, York, NE; Charlie and Bonnie Huff, Lincoln, NE; Martin and Lisa Huff, Lincoln, NE; sisters and brothers-in-law, Wayne Meirath, Raytown, MO; Mary and Bill Wilbur, Omaha, NE; Martha and Gene Feit, Beatrice, NE; Monica Sloan and Sterling Haning, Kansas City, MO.
Contributions in John's memory are suggested to Disabled American Veterans (dav.org) or your favorite charity.
Eulogy given by Alison Huff (daughter) on 4/14/2009:
I stand before you today by God’s grace and my parents’ unfailing love to celebrate the life of John R Huff or Jack to his brothers and sisters.
Most of you have known my dad for many years but for those of you who haven’t my dad was a man of very few words, so trying to put together this tribute has been a litlle challenging. Ironically as we’ve learned more about him, my dad’s role during his service in the Navy was a teleman or communications position which kept him from seeing the frontline in Korea. He wasn’t someone who easily shared his feelings verbally but they were there, ever-present hidden in his warm genuine smile, caring brown eyes and strong tan hands.
My sister Mandy described him in a letter she sent to him at Christmas time in 1998 as “an unbelievable rock in her life”. A letter he kept neatly folded and tucked away with his personal papers. Reading her words reminded me of all the references to our Heavenly Father as our rock and eternal refuge, providing strength in any circumstance. Psalm 40 verse 2 states – he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand and Psalm 46 verses 1 & 2 God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear. As I searched for more scripture, my mind was flooded with other characteristics of our great God that were present in my dad.
My dad grew up with 4 brothers and 4 sisters, many of whom he was honored to live with at one time or another during his 78 years. An honor I know he tried to repay them in any way he could. Family was important to him and providing for his family was a role he took very seriously. Over the last few years he really enjoyed seeing his grandchildren and would anxiously ask about when they were coming over. For Christmas he gave them each the 50 states quarter collection from both mints. And he leaves behind a great coin colleciton that we can all cherish. I will always be grateful for his support in my college education and other endeavors. I remember standing on our driveway telling him with excitement that I had bought my first house; he responded by saying why did I do that. I told him that I couldn’t live with him forever and he laughed at me and said sure I could why not. Looking back I did not understand at the time that he was honored to be my great provider just as our almighty Father is our sustainer and gives us our daily bread.
Other characteristics that instantly come to my mind include patience, obedience, commitment, usefulness, mercy and wisdom. I am sure his time spent out on the golf course was excellent practice in the art of patience, something he was able to put to good use being surrounded by a wife and 3 girls. Proverbs 14 says a patient man has great understanding… and a simple man believes anything but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. I am very proud of my dad’s commitment to his marriage and my mom for over 41 years.
Over the past 8 months my mom and I have been studying Moses in our bible study and recently we read Psalm 90 a prayer of Moses about God’s eternal nature in contrast with man’s frailty and how our time on earth is limited and we are to use it wisely, not living for the moment, but with our eternal home in mind. I was struck by the words of verse 12 – Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom and verse 17 – May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work
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of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands. I instantly thought of what my dad had accomplished and what he had taught us growing up about hard work and the importance of always being productive. He didn’t just want us to be good citizens but active ones who voted, voiced our opinons and worked to make things better. He taught us to give 100% and do the job right the first time. Around the first of this year he gave us a list of items to accomplish around the house, including cleaning out the garage which was his own personal haven for many years. I have so many memories of him sitting in the back of the garage in his folding chair, always asking me “win, lose or draw” after every game no matter how small. Cleaing out the basement is the next item on the list and dad we promise to get it done. My dad was a great teacher of what God asks of all of us, to be the very best we can be, to use the gifts he has bestowed on us to honor him and not to hold ourselves back.
If you had asked me about my dad a few years ago I would have probably described him as frugal or a simple man, but today I describe him as wise and yes still frugal. Education was very important to my dad, whether he was teaching us math principles or asking each of us every day what we had learned in school. I am pretty sure we were the only high school students who carried around a pocket sized copy of the Constitution. He told us on more than one occasion that school was the easiest thing we would ever do in life, you were right dad.
My dad will always be present in the quiet moments, simple pleasures and little details of my life. A good breakfast, the way he printed numbers as if they were lifted directly off the calculator screen, doing taxes, reconciling statements, the detailed listing of how things worked or what he needed me to lookup on the Internet, a neatly stacked pyramid of golf pencils. I will still look for his car when I drive by the Overland Park Golf course on Qivira or have breakfast at Denny’s. As golf was such a passion for my dad in his honor we have some golf pencils at the back of the church please take some when you go and remember him fondly when you’re out on the course or making notes and remember no sandbagging.
I wanted to conclude today with part of Proverbs 1 it’s a clear statement of purpose to impart wisdom for godly living; its focus on God, his charater, works and blessings. A proverb is a short, wise saying that calls a person to action and I truly believe my dad’s greatness was revealed not in his words but in his actions.
For attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young – let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance –
for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
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He graduated from Fairbury High School in 1949 where he lettered in basketball and football. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served with the Helicopter Squadron One (HU-1), earning the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal. After the Navy he attended Fairbury College studying pre-engineering and played center, #61, for the "Bombers" football team. He graduated with his bachelors degree in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1960 where he was a member of Sigma Tau, national honorary engineering fraternity.
After college he began work for the Bureau of Public Roads, which later became the Federal Highway Administration, where he met his wife Donna Bell of 41 years. During his time with the FHA he worked on projects in American Samoa and Saudi Arabia. He worked for the FHA for 33 years before retiring in 1993.
Being an avid golfer, post retirement he worked and volunteered at Falcon Ridge and Overland Park Golf courses. He was a member of the American Legion and an enthusiastic coin collector. He was well read and always eager to share his political opinions and point of view.
He is preceeded into Heaven by his daughter Amanda Smith, brother and sister-in-law, William and Betty Huff and sister Margaret Meirath. John is survived by his wife Donna, Lenexa, KS; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Michael Kuehnen, Olathe, KS; daughter Alison Huff, Liberty, MO; grandchildren, Zachary Foster, Hannah Smith, Jeremy Kuehnen, Luke Smith, Jakob Kuehnen and Josef Kuehnen; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom and Jeanne Huff, York, NE; Charlie and Bonnie Huff, Lincoln, NE; Martin and Lisa Huff, Lincoln, NE; sisters and brothers-in-law, Wayne Meirath, Raytown, MO; Mary and Bill Wilbur, Omaha, NE; Martha and Gene Feit, Beatrice, NE; Monica Sloan and Sterling Haning, Kansas City, MO.
Contributions in John's memory are suggested to Disabled American Veterans (dav.org) or your favorite charity.
Eulogy given by Alison Huff (daughter) on 4/14/2009:
I stand before you today by God’s grace and my parents’ unfailing love to celebrate the life of John R Huff or Jack to his brothers and sisters.
Most of you have known my dad for many years but for those of you who haven’t my dad was a man of very few words, so trying to put together this tribute has been a litlle challenging. Ironically as we’ve learned more about him, my dad’s role during his service in the Navy was a teleman or communications position which kept him from seeing the frontline in Korea. He wasn’t someone who easily shared his feelings verbally but they were there, ever-present hidden in his warm genuine smile, caring brown eyes and strong tan hands.
My sister Mandy described him in a letter she sent to him at Christmas time in 1998 as “an unbelievable rock in her life”. A letter he kept neatly folded and tucked away with his personal papers. Reading her words reminded me of all the references to our Heavenly Father as our rock and eternal refuge, providing strength in any circumstance. Psalm 40 verse 2 states – he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand and Psalm 46 verses 1 & 2 God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear. As I searched for more scripture, my mind was flooded with other characteristics of our great God that were present in my dad.
My dad grew up with 4 brothers and 4 sisters, many of whom he was honored to live with at one time or another during his 78 years. An honor I know he tried to repay them in any way he could. Family was important to him and providing for his family was a role he took very seriously. Over the last few years he really enjoyed seeing his grandchildren and would anxiously ask about when they were coming over. For Christmas he gave them each the 50 states quarter collection from both mints. And he leaves behind a great coin colleciton that we can all cherish. I will always be grateful for his support in my college education and other endeavors. I remember standing on our driveway telling him with excitement that I had bought my first house; he responded by saying why did I do that. I told him that I couldn’t live with him forever and he laughed at me and said sure I could why not. Looking back I did not understand at the time that he was honored to be my great provider just as our almighty Father is our sustainer and gives us our daily bread.
Other characteristics that instantly come to my mind include patience, obedience, commitment, usefulness, mercy and wisdom. I am sure his time spent out on the golf course was excellent practice in the art of patience, something he was able to put to good use being surrounded by a wife and 3 girls. Proverbs 14 says a patient man has great understanding… and a simple man believes anything but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. I am very proud of my dad’s commitment to his marriage and my mom for over 41 years.
Over the past 8 months my mom and I have been studying Moses in our bible study and recently we read Psalm 90 a prayer of Moses about God’s eternal nature in contrast with man’s frailty and how our time on earth is limited and we are to use it wisely, not living for the moment, but with our eternal home in mind. I was struck by the words of verse 12 – Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom and verse 17 – May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work
continued...
1
2
Next
...continued
of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands. I instantly thought of what my dad had accomplished and what he had taught us growing up about hard work and the importance of always being productive. He didn’t just want us to be good citizens but active ones who voted, voiced our opinons and worked to make things better. He taught us to give 100% and do the job right the first time. Around the first of this year he gave us a list of items to accomplish around the house, including cleaning out the garage which was his own personal haven for many years. I have so many memories of him sitting in the back of the garage in his folding chair, always asking me “win, lose or draw” after every game no matter how small. Cleaing out the basement is the next item on the list and dad we promise to get it done. My dad was a great teacher of what God asks of all of us, to be the very best we can be, to use the gifts he has bestowed on us to honor him and not to hold ourselves back.
If you had asked me about my dad a few years ago I would have probably described him as frugal or a simple man, but today I describe him as wise and yes still frugal. Education was very important to my dad, whether he was teaching us math principles or asking each of us every day what we had learned in school. I am pretty sure we were the only high school students who carried around a pocket sized copy of the Constitution. He told us on more than one occasion that school was the easiest thing we would ever do in life, you were right dad.
My dad will always be present in the quiet moments, simple pleasures and little details of my life. A good breakfast, the way he printed numbers as if they were lifted directly off the calculator screen, doing taxes, reconciling statements, the detailed listing of how things worked or what he needed me to lookup on the Internet, a neatly stacked pyramid of golf pencils. I will still look for his car when I drive by the Overland Park Golf course on Qivira or have breakfast at Denny’s. As golf was such a passion for my dad in his honor we have some golf pencils at the back of the church please take some when you go and remember him fondly when you’re out on the course or making notes and remember no sandbagging.
I wanted to conclude today with part of Proverbs 1 it’s a clear statement of purpose to impart wisdom for godly living; its focus on God, his charater, works and blessings. A proverb is a short, wise saying that calls a person to action and I truly believe my dad’s greatness was revealed not in his words but in his actions.
For attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young – let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance –
for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
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