Jack Kaiser

John H. "Jack" Kaiser, 96, of Lawrence, formerly of Paola, passed away March 12, 2013. Jack was born in Sioux City, Iowa, November 3, 1916 to Clara Lee Ford Kaiser and William Henry Kaiser. The family later moved to Kansas and to Paola in 1926. He graduated from Paola High School in 1934 and later attended the University of Kansas, majoring in general business. He was a life member of the University of Kansas Alumni Association, the Jayhawks Society, the 1865 Club of the KU Endowment Association, and the KU Gold Medal Club. His military service began when he was in high school and college when he joined Troop K of the 114th Cavalry of the Kansas National Guard and continued for five years. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in April, 1942, and took his basic training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Later he was sent to officers" candidate school and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army Field Artillery. Jack was married to Wanda Lee Carlson on March 19, 1943 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, while on duty at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. After duty with the Field Artillery Board at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was sent overseas to the Philippines where he joined the 121st Field Artillery Battalion of the 32nd Infantry Division, the Southern Island of Luzon. The Battalion was later ordered to the occupation of Japan on the island of Kyushu. After duty in Japan he returned to the U.S. and was discharged in March of 1946. He joined his brother Richard in the family furniture and floor covering business in Paola. During the years he was in business he was a member of the 127th Field Artillery Battalion of the Kansas National Guard and served until he retired in 1960 as a Captain. He retired from business in 1985. Jack was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Paola for over 70 years and served as deacon, trustee and elder. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Paola Chamber of Commerce, and the Paola Country Club. Jack was preceded in death by his wife Wanda and three brothers William, Richard and Robert. He is survived by his two daughters Sandy Praeger and her husband, Mark, Lawrence, KS and Nancy Kaiser-Caplan and her husband Rich, Kansas City, MO; and four grandchildren John David Praeger, Denver, CO, Gretchen Lee Praeger, Evanston, IL, Sarah Katherine Cornelius, Austin, TX and Elizabeth Mackenzie Craig, Columbia, SC and 3 great grandchildren, Jakson, Ava and Clara Lee. Family requests no flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Presbyterian Church of Paola. To leave a special memory of Jack or a condolence message for his family please click the share memory button above.