Jack Edward Mayer

Mayer, Jack Edward, 86, devoted husband and remarkable, loving father, died Sunday, June 3, 2012 in Wichita, KS. His family knows that he has been welcomed in Heaven with joy and open arms. Jack was born in Chicago on April 21, 1926, the much-loved son of Adolph “Ed” Mayer and Reno Ruth Hoffenkamp Mayer. Even at the age of seven, Jack was showing the outstanding judgment he would use for the rest of his life. With his mother, he visited his Aunts boarding house for abandoned babies, and went straight to the crib of one baby girl. He insisted: “This one is mine!” His parents relented, the lawyers agreed, and Jack suddenly became the big brother to his adored and adoring sister, Sally Jane (Mayer) Wunsch of Fairway, KS. Jacks family moved to Wichita in 1933, where Jack attended Robinson Junior High and what is now Wichita East High. It was during these years he forged life-long friendships with the “College Hill Gang,” a group of boys that would go on to be role models for future generations of young men dedicated to community service, leadership and a joie de vivre in everything they did. The war years saw Jack in the Naval V-12 program at the University of Colorado, and by the time he graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1946 he proudly wore the uniform of a commissioned United States Naval Officer. Jack continued to serve his country and the Navy as a Reserve Officer until his retirement from the Navy. In 1951 he married Elizabeth Carr, who would be his loving wife for 54 years. Jacks professional life in Wichita began with an entry-level job as chemical engineer at Derby Petroleum. Jack was a quick learner: dont dispose of gallons of highly stinky industrial chemicals into a common public drain if you want to keep North Wichita happy. Recognizing his strong points might be elsewhere, Jack turned his attentions to aerospace and had a distinguished career as an engineer at The Boeing Company. Heeding his wishes, no son of his ever became an engineer. Jacks four sons remain astonished to this day that he was able to not only keep a roof over their heads and educate them to advanced degrees, but at the same time obtain his Masters Degree in Management from Wichita State University, engage in his passion for all things automotive (including a cantankerous Ford Skyliner Flip Top convertible in whose pitch-black trunk the smaller of the boys would find themselves helping the repairs as the roof slowly collapsed upon them), delve into volumes of classical literature, consume huge quantities of mystery novels, and plunge into ancient and modern history. In 2005, the sun went out of Jacks life with the death of his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth. With great joy he greeted the return of sunshine to his life in the love of Connie Sue Miller. Jack and Connie married in 2007. Referred to as “The Newlyweds” by one of Jacks sons for the rest of his life, Connie and Jack blossomed and flourished in their love for each other. Their love remained a source of great joy to behold for their children and grandchildren. Survivors include: Jacks wife, Connie; son Dr. Frank Mayer and his wife Anne Mayer and their sons David, Charles, and Brian of Del Mar, CA ; son Jim Mayer and his wife Trisha Bennett Mayer of Pitegny, France and their twin daughters, Sarah of Tempe, AZ and Claire of Pitegny, France; son Paul Mayer and his wife Chanisada Mayer and their daughter, Narisara of Vienna, VA ; son John Mayer and his wife Lisa Lavoie Mayer and their twin sons, Dwight and Duncan of Salem, MA; sister Sally (Mayer) Wunsch of Fairway, KS, her husband Bill, nephews Charles and his family (Olathe, KS), Michael and his family (Paola, KS), and niece Susan (Wunsch) Wellford and her husband Philip (Roeland Park, KS); Jack has left behind shoes that will be impossible to fill. We will all miss his love, wisdom, knowledge and his joie de vivre. “Il a mordu dans la vie pleines dents.” Visitation will be at Downing Lahey East, 6555 East Central in Wichita, on Friday, June 8, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 330 N Broadway in Wichita, on Saturday, June 9, at 10:00 a.m. Memorials in Jacks name have been established at the Music Ministry at Grace Presbyterian Church and the Music Ministry at First United Methodist Church.