John Patrick Sullivan Sr., loving husband, father, and Grandpa (Paw Paw), ended his suffering and left this life on August 6, 2023, at the age of 73. He passed in his home with his wife, Linda of 43 years by his side.
He is survived by his wife Linda, of the home; three sons, Douglas Sullivan and wife Carol of Hayes, VA, David Sullivan and wife Michelle of Garden City, MO and John Sullivan Jr. of Saint Joseph, MO; three daughters, Melinda Smelley and husband Shannon, DeAnn Widener and husband James both of Junction City, KS, and Tina Elliott and husband Bart of St. Robert, MO; 60 grandchildren, 69 great grandchildren, and 1 great great-grandchild.
John was preceded in death by his mom, Josephine Enos; sister, Michelle Sullivan; daughter, Mary Jane Foxworth; two grandsons, Ryan Knorr and Red Morgan; son-in-law, SFC Gregory Hicks and daughter-in-law Patricia Sullivan.
John joined the Army in 1973, and was stationed at Fort Riley, KS. He served in the tail end of the Vietnam War, one year in Korea and Desert Storm. Other than his deployments, he was stationed at Fort Riley, KS, his entire Army career until he retired in May 1991. After his retirement from the Army, John worked for the State of Kansas for a brief time before becoming a truck driver until his health wouldn’t allow him to work anymore.
John was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Enjoyed camping, fishing and anything that involved his family. He was fun, loving, ornery, spontaneous man, who spoke his mind. You never knew what to expect him to do or say next or whether it was going to make you embarrassed, angry, cry or laugh (mostly we laughed). He was a stern father and prepared his children well for the world and mellowed when the grandkids came along. By the time the greats started coming, they had paw paw wrapped around their little fingers.
Services will be held at Johnson Funeral Home in Junction City, KS, Monday, August 14, 2023, at 11:30 a.m., with a procession to Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Manhattan, KS. Immediately following will be a Celebration of Life at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 210 E 10th, Junction City, KS.