LINDSBORG — John Mays “Jack” Parr Jr., 78, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at his home in Lindsborg. Born March 13, 1936, in Louisville, Ky., he was raised in Richmond, Va., where he attended St. Christopher’s Episcopal Prep School.
He came to Kansas in 1954 on an athletic scholarship to play basketball for Coach Tex Winter at Kansas State University. Following a record-setting college basketball career, he joined the Cincinnati Royals of the National Basketball Association.
In 1956, Jack led a roster of college athletes who attended the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Estes Park, Colo.; he initiated and led numerous FCA camps at Rock Springs, Kan., during the next 10 years. Jack also officiated college basketball for 10 years in the Big Eight Conference. He had a stellar sales career with Knights Sporting Goods Company before opening Jack Parr Associates Inc., in 1969. Aided by his wife, Ann, they wrote customer relations training materials, known as WE CARE, and implemented the program in 14 countries and 47 states to nearly one-half million service-sector personnel. Forty-six years later, the company continues to provide training and materials to an international consultant network.
Jack was known as an exceptionally generous person with an entrepreneurial spirit, and one who innately built and developed relationships with all types of personalities. He was especially drawn to marginal, displaced persons, providing food for the hungry and means for finding shelter and gaining an education.
Jack is survived by his wife, Ann, of the home; daughter, Cheri, of Salina; son, Michael, of Erie, Colo.; son, Donn and wife Sandy, of Benton, Kan.; stepdaughter, Cynda Zurfluh and husband Keven Golla, of Oak Hill, Va.; stepdaughter, Robyn Zurfluh, of Atlanta; brother, Bruce and wife Brenda, of Carthage, Tenn.; “adopted” sons, Aleeit Easley and Dante McGrew; 13 grand- and stepgrandchildren; and an international gathering of colleagues and friends.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m., in Presser Auditorium on the Bethany College Campus, followed by a reception at Sundstrom Conference Center, in downtown Lindsborg.
Memorials: Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, Wichita, Church of the Saviour, Washington, D.C., Circles of the Heartland, Salina, and Circles of McPherson County, McPherson.
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WELLS — Jeffery C. Bednarz, 57, Wells, died Monday, January 5, 2015 in Lindsborg, Kansas. He was born September 5, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois to Edward and Elaine (Kochanny) Bednarz. He was a graduate of Salina Central High School, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and attended Barton County Community College. For over twenty years, he was a construction supervisor in Hawaii.
He was preceded in death by his father Edward Bednarz in 1991 and a brother Edward Joseph Bednarz in 2008.
Survivors include his mother Elaine, of Wells; a brother James K. Bednarz and wife Ellen of Salt Lake City, Utah; his companion Donna Feudner of Newton; two aunts Lola Richert of Wells and Edna Kvacik of Lindsborg; and three nephews.
A celebration of Jeffery’s life was held on September 5, 2014 in Salina. Private inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials may be made to the family. Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is handling arrangements.