Gene Charles Jaco

Gene Charles Jaco passed away on October 15, 2024, in Hays, Kansas at the age of 92. He was born on September 27, 1932, to Harry Morris and Inez Marie (Brown) Jaco in Nowata, Oklahoma. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Maureen Mock on June 17, 1951, at the First Christian Church in Plainville and the couple was blessed with three children: Jana, Michael, and Jill.

Before moving to Plainville with his family in 1938, Gene lived in St John, Kansas and on the Saline River near Fairport, Kansas. He attended Plainville schools and graduated in May 1950. He loved sports, lettering in football, basketball and track. His Senior year he made the 1st Team All State.

At the age of 6 he met the love of his life, Phyllis Maureen Mock. They grew up together and spent lots of time riding bikes and horses, swimming, skating, going to the movies on Saturday and just enjoying life. They were blessed with 70 years of marriage.

Gene attended Fort Hays State University where he lettered four years as left halfback on offense and safety on defense, returning punts and kick offs. During those four years in college, Gene worked at Gogleman Ford Co. in the body shop and planned on teaching math, industrial arts, physical education and driver education. His first teaching and coaching job was in Florence, KS where he taught industrial arts and driver education. In the summer he coached Legion baseball. However, due to an accident that hurt his back, he took a desk job in Wichita at Boeing for a brief time before a new teaching opportunity arrived. In 1958 he signed a contract to teach and coach in Woodston, KS teaching industrial arts, math, drivers ed and physical education. In his third year he purchased a farm 6 miles south of Woodston. Phyllis and Gene began to milk cows, raise chickens and hogs and planted a large garden. They sold the products their farm produced for extra income.

Gene moved his family to Plainville in 1964 when the state began closing small high schools. He taught math, physical education and driver’s education and coached boys' basketball and track. He stopped coaching two years later and began farming more. He served as the athletic director at PHS, was a commissioner for two leagues and served on the state committee. He stopped teaching in 1983 and became a Rooks County commissioner in 1984, where he served until 1992. He continued to farm and ranch until 2006.

Gene is survived by his three children: Jana (Ray) Kuhn of Overland Park, KS, Michael (Bonnie) Jaco of Springfield, CO, Jill (Mark) Brin of Godley, TX; five grandchildren, Jesse (Jena) Jaco, Braxton Brin, Adam Kuhn, Aaron (Stephanie) Kuhn, Amber Kuhn; and four great-grandchildren: Tyler Jaco, Style Brin, Grayson and Callahan Kuhn.

Gene joins in his heavenly home, his wife, Phyllis; parents, Harry and Inez Jaco; brother, John W. Jaco Sr.; and nephew, John W. Jaco, Jr.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the First Christian Church in Plainville at 11AM. The family will receive friends on Thursday, 6PM until 7:30PM at the funeral home in Plainville.

Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church or Ascension Living at Via Christi and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd St., Plainville, KS 67663.