John Leslie Bryant

John Leslie Bryant passed away peacefully on February 17, 2025 at The Pines Nursing Facility in Kirksville, Missouri.

John was born in Kincaid, Illinois, on August 9, 1935 to Katie Norville and Leslie Bryant. He later married the love of his life, Margery “Sue” Forsberg. John is survived by their two sons; Kirk (Joni) Bryant and Kent (Cindy) Bryant, their four daughters; Kimberly Bryant Heimer, Suzan (Alan) Mahoney, Catherine Sawyer Munger, and Ruth Sawyer Doyle, their thirteen grandchildren; Joel (Megan) Western, Brett (Karissa) Bryant, Kayla (Ryan) Smith, Cody Bryant, John Heimer, Erin McLain (fiancé Spencer), Lauren McLain, Autumn McLain, Mathew Schrage, Audrey (Danny) Niekamp, Rosemary Munger, and Andrew Doyle, eight grandchildren; Bryant Western, Marli Western, Konnor Bryant, Meredith Heimer, Emma Heimer, Kale Heimer, Bonnie McLain, and Calvin Niekamp. 

John is also survived by his sister Janet (Nick) Turner; sisters in law Christie (Tom) French, Connie McClure, Adele (Randy) Thompson as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

John was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Sue Bryant, as well as his parents, parents in law, brothers in law; Sandy McClure and Charlie Forsberg, sister in law Ann Hobbins, and grandson Joseph “Joey” Bryant.

John and Sue were members of the Edina United Methodist Church while living in Edina. Once they moved to Kirksville, they became members of the First Presbyterian Church in Kirksville.

Through the years, John always had a love for farming and that was his primary occupation. After John retired from his long career of farming, the couple loved to spend time together making wood crafts, traveling to fairs for their wood crafting, and traveling the world. They loved seeing the Egyptian pyramids, the Panama Canal, Italy, and Alaska as well as many other countless destinations. They settled in Kirksville in 2007 and spent their winters in Arizona.

John loved to bird watch, feed the squirrels, and visit with neighbors. One of his greatest enjoyments in life was getting together for family holiday meals and birthdays. He loved playing cards, Yahtzee, and Domino train with his kids and grandkids.

Visitation will be held from 12:30 to 2:00pm Saturday, February 22, 2025 with funeral service at 2pm. Burial will follow at Parkview Memorial Gardens in Kirksville, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to On with Life (OWL) in Ankeny, IA. It is a skilled inpatient rehabilitation program facility where his grandson, Bryant Western, stayed before returning home.