John P. Griebel

John Phillip Griebel passed away on his beloved family farm in the early morning hours of February 19, 2014, in the house in which he was born, with his family at his bedside. John was born on January 27, 1938, in his family farmhouse, near Stockton, Kansas, to parents Merl V. Griebel and Eva (Evans) Griebel. He was baptized in the Stockton Methodist Church in 1945. He was the fourth generation to work the farm homesteaded in 1878. He attended Stockton Grade School, Locust Grove Country School, Webster Grade School and graduated from Stockton Rural High School in 1956 where he excelled at athletics and leadership in Future Farmers of America (FFA), serving as a State Treasurer and earning the State Farmer degree. John attended Kansas State University where he pledged the Acacia Fraternity. He left Kansas State to marry his high school sweetheart, Donna Rae Wiklund, on July 1, 1957. He transferred to Fort Hays State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1961. Upon completing his college education, John worked as a manager for Kresge’s and as a salesman for Proctor and Gamble based in Salina, Kansas. During that time he pursued his love of flying. He obtained a pilot’s license, joined a flying club, and delighted in flying his young family around the area. John returned to the farm in 1966 working in partnership with Merl, and then his son, John Curtis, until 2013. He built a new house for the family, a labor of love he completed on his own, along with lots of collegial assistance from neighbors and friends, in 1973. He inspired his family to be life-long learners by making current events and science regular topics of discussion at the supper table. John was a visionary farmer. An early adopter of new technology, he always explored how it could be applied to enhance his farming operation. Over the years, John supported the community in many ways, serving on several area boards, including Rural Water District #3 and the Farm Bureau Board. In addition to the joy of farming, John loved the companionship of friends as they hunted for pheasants, quail and turkeys. He loved swapping tales of past hunts - from the game conquered, the game that got away, to the funny blunders or mishaps of his hunting companions. John enjoyed dropping by to visit neighbors, sharing morning coffee in town with fellow friends and farmers, and joining friends for Saturday nights at various Kansas hotspots. John will be remembered for his generosity to his family, his deep appreciation for neighbors and friends, and his love of a good prank. John is survived by his sister, Mary Ann (Griebel) Peaslee of Covington, KY; his wife, Donna; his three children- Donna Jo Griebel, John Curtis Griebel, and Lisa Griebel; and nine grandchildren- Luke, Connar, and Sydney Rosebraugh; Conrad, MaryLynn, Delilah, and Beatrice Griebel; and Steven and Devin (Thorpe) Schemm. Family Patriarch, Steward of the Land, Life Long Learner, Daring Innovator, Pragmatic Problem Solver, Builder and Repairer of Everything, John will be sorely missed by family, friends, and neighbors. A celebration of John’s life and long lasting impact on his family is being planned for the Spring.