John Leonard Savage

John Leonard Savage, 102, of Alma, Kansas, died Friday, January 5, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Center in Wamego.  He was a long-time resident of the community.

John was born on March 28, 1921, in Pomona, California, the son of Stuart and Christine (Kramer) Savage.  He graduated from High School in Lawrence, Kansas in 1940.  He then served in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII.  He was in the Pacific Theater and worked as a carpenter.

He then lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he met a young school teacher, Vivian Rueter from Alma, Kansas.  They were married on September 1, 1946. They moved back to Alma in 1947 and shared fifty-three years together.  She preceded him in death on January 27, 2000.  John then married Rayonna Mock in June of 2002.  She also preceded him in death on January 1, 2020.  On both of his wedding days, John and his wife left the ceremony riding a Harley.

John was an electrician, carpenter, and plumber.  He worked for many years for Hendrick’s Hardware in Alma.  He and Vivian also ran a Dairy farm.

John was a 70 plus year member of the American Legion.  At his death he was the longest continuous member of the Alma post.  He was a member of the St. John Lutheran Church.  John was an avid gardener and also enjoyed camping and fishing.  One of his passions was square dancing.  He belonged to the Flint Hill Squares dance club and also helped teach college students square dancing at the Kansas State University’s K Laires club.

John is survived by his sons; Greg Savage (Liz), Paul Savage, David Savage (Jennifer), and Mike Savage (Nicole), all of Alma; his grandchildren, Johnathan Savage (Kayla), St. George, Kristen Faus (Brandt), Evans Mill, New York, Kaley Grimland (Edgar), King City, California, Jessica Tennis (Tristan), Alma, Josie Griego (Marco), Norman, Oklahoma, Jordyn Giberti (Kirill), Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Shelby DeLeon (Luke), Twentynine Palms, California, Kyle Savage, (Kylie), Havelock, North Carolina, and Kaytlin Savage, Alma; his great-grandchildren, Cooper, Owen, Eli, Henry, Eva, Antonella, Cruz, Collison, Porter, Fisher, Chandler, Matthew, Addie, Mason, and Zakeus; and his sister, Marjorie Umbach in Virginia.  John was preceded in death by his parents, his daughters-in-law, Frances Savage and Terri Savage, his grandsons, Matthew Savage and Jeremy Savage, his great-grandson, Marv Savage, and his siblings, Stuart Savage, Bernice Kleinfeldt, and Charlie Savage.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, January 12, 2024, at St. John Lutheran Church in Alma.  Burial with military honors will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery.  John will lie-in-state Thursday, at the church, beginning at 3:00 pm, where the family will greet friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.  They suggest memorial contributions to St. John Lutheran Church, St. John Lutheran School, or the American Legion, and those may be sent in care of Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be made at www.campanellastewart.com.