Jack Lee Roe

Jack Lee Roe
Jack Roe realized his ultimate desire and goal on Wednesday evening, May 2, 1012, when he went to his eternal home prepared for him by Jesus, the Lord and Savior. His departure came after failing health and a short illness at the Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, Kansas.

Jack Lee Roe was the second child of Hermon and Triece (Reed) Roe, born June 12, 1930, in Jewell County, Kansas. He attended country Grade School and graduated from Superior, Nebraska High School. He then took up farming in Jewell County.

On May 25, 1949, Jack was united in marriage to Myrtle Nelsen at her parent’s home in rural Jewell County. To this union three children were born: Kenneth Wayne, Kathy Elaine, and Rodney Lee.

Jack and family attended the Olive Hill Church, the church in which he grew up, and as young people he and Myrtle were involved with the Northbranch Friends Church young peoples group. His involvement with the Church grew as the years passed and he eventually felt called to full time ministry.

After Jack and Myrtle spent the first seventeen years of their married life on a farm in Jewell County, south of Superior, Jack answered God’s call to pastoral ministry and moved his family to Iowa to serve as pastor of the Stuart Friends Church. He was formally recorded as a Friends Minister on August 15, 1970, and for forty years served as a Minister, mainly in Friends Churches in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

Following his retirement from full-time pastoral service, Jack and myrtle moved to Mankato, Kansas, in 1994. Jack did pulpit supply at various churches and served five years as pastor of the Burr Oak, Kansas, Church of the Nazarene. Severe vision loss eventually caused him to retire from his position. Jack loved his Lord and loved to preach. Whenever asked, “How are you?” his reply would be, “Happy on the Way!”

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his infant daughter, Kathy; and his two brothers-in-law.

He is survived and celebrated by his wife of nearly sixty-three years, Myrtle, of Mankato, Kansas; two sons, Ken and wife, Diana Roe of Glen Elder, Kansas, and Rod Roe of Denver, Colorado; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; his older sister, Marie Jones of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and younger sister, Dora May Gourley of Nampa, Idaho; and other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 10, 2012, at 2:30 p.m., at the Glen Elder Friends Church, Glen Elder, Kansas, with Pastors Rich Miller, and Ken Smith. The congregation will sing, “The Love of God” and Amazing Grace” with Karen Miller as song leader, Riana Roe, organist, and Alice Thompson, pianist.

The ashes of his earthly remains will be buried by the family at the Olive Hill Cemetery, rural Jewell County, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Glen Elder Friends Church.

Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of local arrangements.