Johnny Cansler (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Johnny Guinn Cansler was born December 20, 1925, north of Bolivar, in the rural Huron area, where he lived much of his life. His parents were Ernest and Della Cansler.
Johnny attended Goodson High School, along with his future wife, Iva Mae Lightfoot. The night of their high school graduation, after the power went out in the school gym, they walked out of the gym and into life by the headlights of a car that had been parked at the front door, hand in hand, as they lived for 73 years after their marriage in 1944.
Johnny and Iva Mae spent the first years of marriage often apart, he in WWII serving in the Merchant Marines, she along with other family members in Santa Paula, California, riveting airplanes for the war effort and picking oranges since the men were gone to war.
Johnny by coincidence was in both New York for the joyous festivities of V-E day and San Francisco for V-J Day. But the lure of big city life and the sunny warmth of the West Coast proved no bar to returning to rural Bolivar shortly after the birth of their first son Ronald Lee in 1947. Johnny and Iva Mae had three more children born while living in Bolivar: Patricia Faye, Randall Eugene, and Debra Mae.
Tragedy struck when Randy, in the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam era, developed lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma and, after years of the best medical care the army could give, accompanied by his family throughout the United States, died in 1976. He still lived in Johnny’s heart at his death.
Son Ron and wife Debbie live in Joplin. The grandchildren are Molly Dates and husband Jason, Gabe Cansler and wife Colleen, and Adam Cansler, all of Denver and five great-grandchildren: Treyson, Addison, and Josselyn Cansler, Eleana and Penelope Dates.
Daughter Patsy and husband Larry Hofstetter live in Bolivar. The grandchildren are Sarah Parrott and husband Sam of Knob Noster, Jennifer Noteware and husband Todd, and John Hofstetter and wife Melanie of Bolivar. Great grandchildren are Rylee, Levi, and Reagan Parrott in Knob Noster; Hannah Noteware and Avery Hofstetter in Bolivar
Daughter Debi and husband Steve Koelkebeck live in Joplin, with their son Benjamin Koelkebeck.
Johnny worked at several occupations including farming, trucking, garment factory supervisor, real estate and auto sales and owned the “Corner Store” bait shop.
Most important in Johnny’s life were faith and his family. He was a life-long Methodist, first at Fairview church in Huron, then 54 years at Bolivar United Methodist where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Family meant the world to Johnny and he treated Iva Mae and their family to many wonderful vacations and created beautiful memories that will never be forgotten. Holiday celebrations, especially Christmas and the 4th of July, were Johnny’s favorites. Johnny was a lifelong fisherman and had the pleasure of fishing all over the country. He was well known for his bountiful vegetable gardens and fruit orchard.
Johnny died Thursday, September 7. After kissing his wife good night on her 92nd birthday, he suffered a devastating health event that led to hospitalization at CMH where he passed away 3 days later.
Friends may come by the funeral home to sign the guestbook from 1:00 - 5:00 pm, on Saturday, September 9, and 9:00 - 2:00 pm, on Sunday, September 10.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 10, 2017, at the Butler Funeral Home, in Bolivar, from 2:00-4:00 pm.
Services will be held Monday, September 11, 2017, at 10:00 AM in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel in Bolivar. Officiating are Rev. David Collum, of Bolivar United Methodist, Rev. Rex Warren, of Fairview Methodist, and Elder Donnie Lane.
As the poet said, when the funeral bell tolls from the steeple, “Send not to ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” No one gets out of this place alive. But Johnny had a good run of it—a good life, lived well.
What’s your fondest memory of Johnny?
What’s a lesson you learned from Johnny?
Share a story where Johnny's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Johnny you’ll never forget.
How did Johnny make you smile?
