Jun 19, 2022

John Billinger

Posted Jun 19, 2022 7:20 PM

John Billinger was born August 26, 1933, to Mike and Barbara (Richmeier) Billinger of Rural Graham County, Kansas. He passed away from this life June 16, 2022, at the age of 88.

John was one of 14 children raised on the family farm north of St. Peter. Life on the farm instilled the values of Love of God and Church, love of family, and the ethics of hard work that was the core of their existence. Being one of only four boys born into the family meant that John took on much of the responsibility of operating the farm. However, all fourteen children worked hard to maintain their life on the farm.

There was always time for some orneriness. John remembered fondly the pranks he pulled with his cousins and siblings such as "swiping baked goods" and releasing wild rabbits into a relative’s house. The family loved card games such as Pitch and Rock, fishing, and playing baseball together. Their family went through many tough years of hard living, but survived from the land, raising cattle and growing wheat.

John was the first of the children to graduate from high school attending Morland High School, in the class of 1952. Shortly afterwards he enlisted in the U.S. Army serving as a Private, stationed in France. He was a trained mechanic and was recruited into the Army’s traveling baseball team which helped provide entertainment for the troops while overseas.

His amazing talent as the team's pitcher carried over into civilian life once he returned to Graham County and settled down in Hill City. John was playing on a local baseball team, the Hill City Athletics, and working in the oil patch when he met "The Love of His Life", Sara Jane Biles. Shortly after that set-up first date they were married August 8, 1959 and started their family. Together John and Sara raised six children while he worked as an operator for Central Kansas Power and also maintained the St. Peter family farm.

John was all about hard work and living a conservative lifestyle. He was a devoted son to his parents, and a husband and father who knew he had to be a good provider. Besides working his day jobs, he did enjoy his hobbies of gardening, yard work fishing, bowling, working on cars and keeping all the farm equipment working, welding, and building things with his hands. John loved watching the stars and planets through his telescope, teaching and playing baseball with his boys, and tinkering in his garage on various projects while listening to his polka music.

Never wanting to slow down, he kept busy. Work was his life. Trips to the farm were a daily activity, Having his boys and eventually his grandsons working by his side made John so happy. He taught them all about farm life, including how an electric fence "really" worked! His promise of supplying all the BB’s for the guns was a sure way to get them to the farm with him! John retired from Midwest Energy and worked for years as a crop adjustor, before retiring completely to focus on the farm and family.

The grandchildren fondly remember his love of popcorn and his dogs, his big smile, his tears through uncontrollable laughter, rides on the golf cart, his obsession with John Deere tractors, and his simple reply of "OK" when they told him they loved him.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his son Duane; three brothers: Adolph, Pete and Louis; five sisters: Bridget Mann, Lucine Horak, Dorothy Fagan, Clara Herman and Elaine Rome. Survivors include his wife Sara, Hill City; two sons: Stephen (Lori) Billinger, Ellinwood and Mark (Jessica) Billinger, Stockton; three daughters: Debra (Les) Burton, Holyrood, Tammy (Dennis) Mersch, Hill City, Saundra (Steven) Nickelson, Penokee; five sisters: Carolyn Whittman, Topeka, Agnes Rome, Denver, Colorado, Barbara Rome, Denver, Colorado, Mary Anne (Neil) Rome, Denver, Colorado and Shirley Kuppetz, Ellis; 18 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Health issues eventually forced John to quit working entirely. Sara, who lovingly called him her "Johnnie B.” provided great care for him in their home until it was necessary for family to provide additional help. John and Sara's days consisted of caring for their dogs, watching their favorite tv shows and sports, endless games of Solitaire, tracking the weather, and keeping up with busy family members through phone calls and visits. John believed in God's promises of giving us glimpses of Heaven on Earth, He treasured all the simple joys of life. His nature was one of being very content even though he was restricted with very little mobility at the end of his life. He dealt with his health situation with great courage and strength His greatest joy was being with his wife and family who were blessed to be at his side at the moment of death. John will be forever in our hearts and our memories. He was greatly loved and will be deeply missed. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may the Perpetual Light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.  

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