John Sherwood Modlin

1924 - 2017

John Sherwood Modlin, 92, died peacefully on June 10, 2017, at The Bluffs in Columbia, Mo.

He was born on July 13, 1924, in Winfield, Kan., to Ernest D. Modlin Sr. and Esther Sherwood Modlin. He proudly served his country during World War II as part of the 11th Armored Division of the U.S. Army. He was in the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944 and he received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during the cracking of the Siegfried line in February of 1945. John married the love of his life, Wanda Bayne Modlin, in 1948. He never tired of telling anyone who would listen (including his nurses and aids at the end of his life) that he fell for Wanda the minute he set eyes on her. John and Wanda enjoyed almost 69 years of marriage.

John graduated from Central High School in Kansas City in 1943 and from the University of Kansas City (UMKC) in 1951. He worked as human resource manager for companies in the Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri areas, and retired from Farmland Industries in 1986. He was an Eagle Scout and served as a Chieftain in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. John was on the Board of Trustees for the Kansas City Community Colleges and was on the Board of Directors of the historic Bingham -Waggoner Estate in Independence. He was a member of Raytown Christian Church. John loved fishing, boating and flying airplanes. He cared deeply about his family and fellow veterans. A bit of a character, John often regaled his family with show tunes and camp songs.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda Bayne Modlin of Independence, Mo.; son, John Michael Modlin of Raytown, Mo.; daughter, Suzanne Modlin Flanegin (Mark) of Columbia, Mo.; grandson, John Patrick Flanegin of Columbia, Mo.; sister, Mary Modlin O'Neal of Overland Park, Kan.; sister-in-law, Virginia Bayne of St. Martins, Mo.; sister-in-law, Shirley Modlin of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; and a niece, Marsha Rodriguez (Hernando); among other loving relatives.

Cremation is planned; with a memorial service to be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at the Carson-Speaks Chapel, 1501 W. Lexington Ave., Independence, MO 64052; 816-252-7900.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John Modlin's memory to the donor's favorite charity.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.speakschapel.com.