John White

John White certainly knew a good offer when he saw it. The cherished husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend and career salesman wisely took advantage of a Heavenly offer on Thursday, May 18th, surrounded by his loving family.

Johnny. Lumpy. Dad. Old Yeller. Pops. PawPaw. He had many nicknames through his 73 years. Always a self-starter, Dad worked his entire way through — and graduated from — prestigious Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska.

He tried college but found it too stifling, so he proudly served his nation in the United States Marine Corps from 1963-69, and received an Honorable Discharge.

He married the love of his life, the beautiful and elusive Darlene Vollmer, in 1965 and would be celebrating 52 years together this July. They had four fab children, Chris, Jeff, Steve and Bree. It was during their children’s teen years that the moniker Old Yeller was christened as a term of affliction, er, affection.

A lifelong salesman, John’s first job was handling Guy’s Nuts (& Chips). He perfected his craft in several sales positions over the years including pharmaceuticals, cigarettes, haircare, homegoods, jewelry, and gift and tourism.

Perennial sales award winner, John is one of those people who never met a stranger. He started his own business in 1984, John R. White & Associates, and was an in-demand high producer and favored rep among gift and tourism manufacturers.

Those first few years were a bit challenging with two kids in college; there were times when our annual family vacation consisted of a miniature golf outing and dinner at Red Lobster…but we just felt lucky to be around our Pops and wouldn’t trade those moments for anything. He retired from sales in 2009 to spend his golden years with Darlene. He also delivered meals on wheels to the elderly a few days a week.

John enjoyed yearly trips to Colorado in the fall with Darlene, and loved the mountains. He also loved trains, cooking, and listening to and watching his favorite teams, the Royals and Chiefs. He had a passion for cars and car shows which he passed onto his sons; and everything in his home and auto had a place!

A Columbo fan, John also enjoyed solving mysteries. These mostly involved getting to the bottom of things like who left the dang milk out. Who put the Tabasco in the wrong place. And in one case, who backed his Olds 98 Regency into the driveway — without first opening the garage door.

Always a giver (and perhaps to atone for his Old Yeller moments), he was known to frequently surprise his collegiate children with full gas tanks. Walkman care packages. And covert checking account deposits that came in handy for things like tuition, beer and pizza. He would also sometimes surprise Darlene with a new car or appliance that always garnered an interesting reaction from her…think in the realm of Godzilla storming Tokyo here.

There is even a persistent rumor that he gave his youngest child, Bree, a credit card for her very own use while in college. (Okay, Bree, you can hand over the card now that Dad has moved on!)

Besides beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and son, Dad was also a beloved Grandpa, or PawPaw as he was known. He enjoyed many unforgettable times in Branson and KC with his six lovely grandchildren. This ranged from fishing tournaments to riding the Ducks to just teaching them how to be good, respectful kids.

Sadly, the grandkids rarely saw an Old Yeller appearance as that was largely purged from him by the torment of his children.

Beloved Johnny to his dear sisters and their husbands (and to his inlaws as well), he enjoyed frequent family reunions in Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Nebraska.

John’s neighbors all became his close friends and meant so much to him, all of his life. During the ‘80s, he was known as the Mayor of 18th Street Court. He and Darlene organized two yearly events.

One was the annual Holiday Lighting Neighborhood Party at our home. He carefully supervised his sons’ light installation with a rum and eggnog in one hand, and a backup rum and eggnog in the other. Some said this holiday lighting party rivaled the KC Mayor’s Plaza Lights Ceremony. As kids, we agreed. As adults, we think our Dad’s was better!

The summer event was the Fourth of July Block Party Blowout. Circa 1982, this party became literal. John’s intrepid sons had a brilliant idea: “Hey, let’s light an M-80 in a PVC pipe!” After forbidding it and patiently lecturing them on the dangers of explosive ordnance (he was a Marine, after all), he and good friend and neighbor Noel Griffin confiscated the contraband.

After which they backed everyone away from the street and lit up the night with a seismic event involving, yes, an M-80 and a pipe. It was so earth shattering that US Geological Survey instruments picked it up. Dad also managed to get a shrapnel souvenir in his derriére. He was all about making good times happen!

Up next, he’ll be returning to college as a resident at Creighton Medical School in Omaha on a full post-grad scholarship: Dad selflessly donated his body to science so that others may continue learning from his gentle teachings.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd & Magdalene (Haller) White, his sister Georgia Moylan, his daughter-in-law Jennifer (Linhardt) White, and his granddaughter Shade White. Also preceding him were inlaws Otto, Eileen, Denny and Gene Vollmer, and Pat Moylan.

He is survived by wife Darlene (Vollmer), kids Chris (Curtis Gray), Jeff (Tassy), Steve (Mary) & Bree White. Grandkids Emma & Savannah Gray; and Timber, Aspen and Oakley White. Johnny is also survived by his sisters, Barbara (Tom) Colchin, Margaret (Jerry) Veatch, Sally White, and Nancy (Pete) Leonovicz, and siblings-in-law Harry and Alice Vollmer, Tom & Connie Dunham, Debbie Vollmer, and another Debbie Vollmer, and a host of nieces and nephews. And the Scottie dog who slept on his head, Zoey.

Words cannot express how much we love and miss you and will continue that every day, Dad. Godspeed on your next journey. Whenever we see a train or hear its cheerful whistle, we know you’ll be smiling at us!

Visitation will be held Monday, May 22 from 6-8pm at Speaks Suburban Chapel in Independence. Mass of the Resurrection will be held Tuesday, May 23rd at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Blue Springs.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at https://donate.lls.org