John Walter (Jack) Lane, 90, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on February 16, 2020 at the Kansas City Hospice House.  Jack was born May 24, 1929 in Fort Madison, Iowa to Walter Roland Lane II and Ruth Evelyn (Teel) Lane.  Jack had many fond memories of his childhood in Fort Madison which included many visits to the family farms of both his Lane and Teel relatives to spend time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

After graduating from high school, Jack immediately went to work for the AT&SF Railroad.  He began his career with Santa Fe as a fireman, and quickly became an engineer.  His career was interrupted in 1951 by the Korean War.  For two years he served in the Army, stationed in Korea, driving steam engine trains for the Korean National Railroad.  He rose to the rank of sergeant, and left Korea with memories of events that would stay with him for the rest of his life.  After serving in Korea, Jack returned to Fort Madison and his work at the AT&SF Railroad. 

Faith played an important role in Jack’s life.  While attending church at the First Christian Church in Fort Madison, he met the love of his life Mary E. Klinzman, a local kindergarten teacher.  Jack and Mary were married June 17, 1956 in Des Moines, Iowa surrounded by family and friends.

Jack and Mary spent the first fifteen years of married life in Fort Madison.  During that time they welcomed the births of daughter Ellen Ruth Lane and son Walter Roland Lane III (Walt).  Jack‘s work with the AT&SF Railroad took them from Fort Madison to Overland Park, Kansas; then to Arkansas City, Kansas; and finally to Chanute, Kansas.  He worked his way up the ranks to the positions of assistant trainmaster and trainmaster.  Jack retired in 1987, after forty years of working for the AT&SF Railroad.  After retirement, Jack and Mary enjoyed living for twenty-five years in Clearwater, Florida.

Service to his church and community were always a priority for Jack.  When living in Fort Madison, he served as a deacon and elder of his church.  He also volunteered at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, leading Bible study groups and counseling inmates on adjusting to life after leaving prison.  In Clearwater, Jack served as a deacon, in addition to a long-term appointment as the church’s property chairman.  He also assisted his wife, Mary, teaching Sunday school and running the church after school program, and volunteered in the church’s Nearly New shop. 

After Mary’s death in 2013, Jack moved back to Kansas City to be close to his children and called Kansas City his home.  He soon got involved serving at the First Christian Church of North Kansas City.  He was a volunteer with the church’s hot dog program, serving free lunch to students and the homeless, and with Micah Ministries serving the homeless.

When not serving his church, Jack loved to play golf.  In addition to regular weekly golf games, Jack enjoyed competing in scrambles and tournaments, playing with Mary whenever he could.

Jack is survived by his daughter Ellen Fisher and husband Tom of Overland Park, Kansas; son Walter Lane and wife Jana of Parkville, Missouri; grandson Greg Lane and wife Kathryn, and their children Jack and Cooper of Kansas City, Missouri; granddaughter Lindsey Kreikemeier and husband Robert, and their children Heidi, Rhett, and Wyatt of Basehor, Kansas; and grandson Alex Fisher of Overland Park, Kansas.  Jack was preceded in death by his wife Mary, his parents Walter and Ruth; daughter Marla; and granddaughter Erin Fisher. 

Visitation is 1:00pm, Sunday, March 1, 2020 at the First Christian Church of North Kansas City followed by a celebration of Jack’s life at 2:00pm.  Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Fort Madison, Iowa at a later date.  Memorial gifts may be made to the First Christian Church of North Kansas City, or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.  Memorial gifts or flowers may be sent to First Christian Church of North Kansas City, 2018 Gentry, North Kansas City, MO 64116. 

The most important things in Jack’s life were his faith, family, and friends. Jack was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  He freely shared all his wonderful gifts and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.