Samuel R. Jahnke

A Celebration of Life for Samuel "Sam" R. Jahnke, 64, will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, June 10, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Matthew Glasgow, Vicar Chris Schultz and Lay Minister and Brother-in-Law Ross Freeman officiating. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, 203 N. Washington Street. Sam passed away after a 14 month struggle with a brain tumor at his rural Geary County home surrounded by his beloved family on June 6, 2010.As Sam wished, cremation will take place. Memorial contributions have been designated to the First Presbyterian Church, 113 W. 5th Street, Junction City, KS 66441 and Homecare and Hospice, c/o Geary Community Health Care Foundation, P.O. Box 3015, Junction City, KS 66441.

Sam's illness never claimed his positive and beautiful spirit or his mind. Sam was born February 26, 1946, the fifth child and only son of Roy and Margaret (Sylvester) Jahnke. Sam lived his entire life on the farm where he loved, worked, and played.

Sam was a 1964 graduate of JCHS where he met his wife, Mary. Their marriage of 43 years was filled with love and joy. They were best friends and soul mates. Sam was so incredibly proud of his three sons. He was astounded that the happiness his sons brought him could be magnified even more with the birth of his two precious grandchildren, Heston and Kassidy. Two of Sam's son's, Matt and Eric farmed and worked and played side by side with their dad. Doug made his way to a life in Pennsylvania but returned home often to be part of his Dad's life.

Sam will be remembered for his honesty, integrity and pure love of life, work and family. Sam was a good, fun loving man who showed his family how to live by his sterling example. Sam never met a stranger. He was curious about everything. He could build or fix anything. Sam loved to travel, but was just as content being at home visiting with friends and family. He enjoyed many special visits during his illness. They meant so much to him. Sam's word was his bond. His handshake was as binding as any contract.

Sam loved to hunt and fish. He collected antique fishing lures. Highlight fishing trips to Mexico and Venezuela were no more special to Sam than fishing in the creek that runs through his land and bringing in that 30lb. catfish, or seeing his grandson catch his first fish. Sam was a happy and content man. He accepted with grace and dignity anything that life threw at him, never questioning why. He just figured out a way to best deal with it.

He loved K-State sports and was thrilled over the past basketball season. He'll be rooting for his Cats this football season from the grand stands in Heaven.

Sam served as elder of the First Presbyterian Church. He had been a board member of Farm Bureau and Farmer Stockman Coop and served many years as a resolution man for Dairy Farmers of America. He attended Kansas State University. Sam was a lifelong Farmer, Dairyman and Cattleman.

He is survived by his wife Mary, his sons; Matthew, Douglas and wife Bonnie, Eric and wife Kristel parents of Heston and Kassidy, his mother-in-law, Kathern Irwin who loved him like a son, his four sisters; Fern and husband Ross Freeman, Marguerite and husband Rupert Brockman, Carol and husband Terry Manz and Julia and husband Dave Woolfolk, his brother-in-law, John Irwin and wife Cathy, his Uncle Harold Jahnke and Aunt Della Mae Rudolph and many well loved nieces and nephews and cherished friends.