Jared Sherman Packard

Jared Sherman Packard, 48, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away on August 24, 2026. Jared was born in Hays, Kansas, and spent his life building a legacy of faith, family, service, friendship, and love.

Jared graduated from Goddard High School in 1996, where he played football and wrestled. He continued his football career at Garden City Community College on a football scholarship, where he earned All-American honors as an offensive lineman. He later graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor of science degree in marketing and management.

When Jared was 19 he served a diligent two-year, full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Las Vegas West Mission, where he devoted himself to serving others and bringing people closer to Jesus Christ. His faith remained one of the most important parts of his life throughout his years.

In August 2001, Jared married his childhood crush and the love of his life, Laura Ann Packard, in the Dallas, Texas Temple. Together, they built a family that was Jared’s greatest source of joy and pride.

For the past 12 years, Jared worked for Eli Lilly and Company as a Senior Sales Representative. During his career, he developed strong and lasting relationships with his colleagues and customers. Jared had a natural ability to connect with people, and those relationships extended far beyond his professional life.

Jared was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent many years serving in bishoprics and as a high councilor. But perhaps his greatest love within the Church was working with the youth. As a seminary teacher, Sunday School teacher, and Young Men’s leader, Jared touched the lives of countless young men and women. He had a gift for making young people feel valued, heard, and loved. He regularly attended the temple and had recently signed up to serve as a temple worker in the new Wichita, Kansas Temple.

Jared also believed in serving his community. He volunteered his time coaching Noah’s peewee football team and loved being involved in the lives of the young people around him.

Above all else, Jared was an amazing husband and father. He would do anything for his children, Noah William Packard and Emma Ashley Packard, and supporting them was his favorite thing to do. Whether Noah or Emma was participating in a sporting event, or school activity, Jared was there. He was, without question, the loudest fan in the stands.

Jared found joy in the simple things in life. He loved hunting, yardwork, reading, watching car shows, including The Grand Tour, and, perhaps most of all, spending time with his family. He enjoyed online shopping, cooking, using his BBQ smoker and wood-fired pizza maker, and singing as loudly as he could throughout the house. He was rarely without his cowboy hat and boots and had recently welcomed a new girl into his life who he surprisingly loved so much, his new puppy, Daisy.

Jared truly didn’t know a stranger. He had a remarkable sense of humor and a way of making every family gathering, party, or ordinary conversation more enjoyable. He loved quoting movies and television shows, often bringing laughter to those around him. His presence had a way of filling a room, and his absence will be deeply felt by everyone who knew and loved him.

Jared is survived by his wife, Laura Ann Packard; his son, Noah William Packard; and his daughter, Emma Ashley Packard. He is also survived by his parents, Bill and Andrea Packard; his father-in-law, William Wycoff; and his siblings, Michael Packard (Rami), Aaron Packard (Shelley), Wendy Tolleson, Suzanne Ferley (Shane), Jamie Newman (John), Blain Packard (Alison), Thad Packard (Stephanie), Andrew Packard (Jessica), and Ryan Packard (Stephanie), as well as 40 nieces and nephews, whom he loved dearly.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Andrew and June McKinley, Evert Packard, and Berniece Bell, and his mother-in-law, Alta Wycoff.

Funeral Services

Funeral services for Jared will be held Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
7834 W. 29th St. North
Wichita, Kansas

The viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m., with funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Funeral services will be zoom through the church and administered through them. Following is the link:

https://zoom.us/j/99960195814?pwd=quHRpZepOF8cbvxBKs4vSoXj1ZHwaJ.1#success

A graveside service will immediately follow at:

Resurrection Cemetery
1650 North Maize Road
Wichita, Kansas

Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.