Shon Johannes

Shon Johannes, of rural Powhattan, died Saturday October 4, 2025 at his farm home. Shon

was born October 1,1950 in Sabetha Kansas, to Luther and Freda Johannes, and welcomed by

his older sister Carol. attended Powhattan grade school and graduated from Powhattan High

School as Class President in 1968. Shon was in Future Farmers of America and did all things

to do with farming. He attended Highland Junior College and Washburn University but returned

to farming when his father had a heart attack.

Through mutual Washburn friends, he met his future bride Florence Anne Melvin, who had

moved with her family Col and Mrs. B.F. Melvin to Topeka to serve his last tour of duty with the

National Guard. Florence moved to Florida after the tour but reconnected with Shon, who in his

short, get to the point manner, asked her "yellow gold or white gold". She returned back to

Bradenton, Florida to continue to study at the University of South Florida and plan their wedding

for the next summer.

Florence moved to Kansas in June and they were married August 4,1974 after harvest.

Florence crocheted her veil and wedding dress and her mother-in-law Freda made their

wedding cake. They were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Fairview by Pastor Hemmen who

was also the pastor in Powhattan. The newlyweds settled into a house then moved to a walnut

property that his parents owned close to Hiawatha, digging a well and bringing in phone service.

During this time, they had their first son, Jonah Albert and 17 months later their first daughter,

Sophia Britt.

In 1977 Shon went to work at Jeffrey Energy Center and commuted to work. In 1978 the family

moved to rural Fairview to a house owned by Dr. Rodgers in Kansas City. Shon continued

commuting until their mail carrier, who was a cousin of Gene Swearingen, told Shon that Gene

needed help on his farm north of Hiawatha. Shon and Florence, who missed their farming life,

went to work for the Swearingen family and lived in the home that Nancy McCoy Swearingen

had grown up in. Shon enjoyed farming for Gene and the family was happy. Jonah and Sophie

started school in Hiawatha during this time. Shon and Florence also added their second son,

Jacob Andrew in 1980. They were very happy with farming with the Swearingens.

At this time, Shon's father and mother decided to move to the walnut property and asked Shon

to return to farming the family farm. The family moved to the house Shon grew up in south of

Powhattan, where they've lived ever since. Their second daughter Suzannah Bridgette was

born two years later in 1982.

Shon was extremely smart, including mechanically, and could fix anything. He was always

helping his farmer friends and others. His brothers-in-law were engineers and called about

different mechanical questions they were having.

Shon was a fire fighter for the Powhattan Volunteer Fire Department and received a golden ax

for over twenty years of service. He served on the Powhattan Cemetery Committee and was

Secretary of the Powhattan High School Alumni Association. Closest to his heart in his

community was his devotion to the Zion Lutheran Church that just celebrated its 125th year of

existence at its present location. Shon's maternal grandfather was among the group that moved

the Church from rural Mercier to its location in Powhattan. Shon was filled with faith and prayer

and was very involved in the Church, volunteering his time to ensure the Church continued to

welcome and serve its small congregation.

As his children grew up and graduated school in Hiawatha and all earned their college degrees,

the eldest Jonah from K-State, Jacob and Suzie from KU, and Sophie from KU and law degree

from Notre Dame, Shon also continued to grow and went into organic farming. He and Florence

celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the beach in California. Just this year, he started

to grow non-GMO crops, all the while maintaining a large commercial orchard of fruit trees,

blackberries, Ogalalla strawberries, and more fruit trees around their home.

Shon loved his family and friends, delighted in his children and grandchildren, loved his church,

his mornings at Powhattan COOP morning coffee group and his partner for life, Florence. He is

survived by his wife Florence, his four children, ten grandchildren, his sister Carol and his

brother-in-law John Melvin. He will be greatly missed. He was a true Renaissance man who

could appreciate all kinds of music, art, literature and life.

From Shon's desk in his own hand:

Could one perceive the day ahead

as sunny, bright, not overcast or dead

his days would be fulfilled and fun,

not dragging on, and hard to get done.

So everyday no matter dreary or clear

the sun is up, maybe clouds, but don't fear.

- S.J. 2011

Funeral Services are planned for 3 p.m., Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Powhattan, KS. Pastor Tim Brisbois will officiate. Interment will follow at the Powhattan Cemetery. Friends may call at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha, KS after 10 a.m. Thursday. The family will receive friends Friday, October 10, 2025 from 5 p.m. 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are welcome for the upkeep of the Zion Lutheran Church in Powhattan or the Powhattan Cemetery fund and may be sent in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home 124 S, 7th St, Hiawatha, KS 66434. Online condolences may be sent to www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com.