BANNING, James Edward - b. June 15, 1936 - d. September 4, 2011

[patyrn]

James Edward (Pop) Banning, age 75, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Sunday, September 4, 2011 in Wichita, Kansas.  He was born June 15, 1936 in Longton, Kansas, the son of Lonzo Abram and Veora Allison (Jackson) Banning.

James moved with his family to a farm near Longton, Kansas at age 2 where he grew up and attended Longton schools, graduating from Longton High School in 1954.  James married Wanda Lea Shanks in Longton on August 25, 1961.  On April 15, 1963 during a dirt storm, James, Wanda, and son, Jimmy, moved to the Julius Johns farm twelve miles south of Johnson, Kansas.  Here he began his life journey of working hard on the land and loving the people around him.

Over the next 16 years, Lorrie Ann, Janet, Robert (Pete), and Nancy were added to the family.  James and Wanda built a house in 1975 and moved into Johnson, Kansas.  After he "retired' from working for Julius Johns for over 36 years, James and Wanda pulled new trailers across this nation to new dealerships for almost a year.  After seeing the countryside, James went to work for  Collingword Grain in Big Bow, Kansas pulling anhydrous tanks and running the scales at the elevator during harvest.  He then pulled tanks and hauled fertilizer for Skyland Grain across four different counties in SW Kansas and two counties in SE Colorado.  He knew all the country roads and took great pride in all the miles he could travel in a day, making sure the tanks were in the right spot.  

He believed in working hard, doing a good job, and accepting people for who they were.  James enjoyed having a good time with those he worked with, his family in their day-to-day lives, and his coffee buddies at the convenience store.  James accepted the Lord as his personal Savior in 1974 and was a member of the Faith Baptist Church in Johnson.  He was a board member of the Stanton County Historical Society.  Some of his favorite things were John Deere tractors and combines, tractor pulls, watching a grandson in the mud run, classic country and gospel music, car races, and spending as much time as he could enjoying his family.

He is survived by two sons, Jimmy Banning and wife, Kitty of Ulysses, Kansas and Robert (Pete) Banning and wife, Michelle of Johnson, Kansas; three daughters, Lorrie Ann Leatherman and husband, Jeff of Liberal, Kansas, Janet Sheppard and husband, Brian of Syracuse, Kansas, and Nancy Roberts and husband, Michael of Syracuse, Kansas; two brothers, Cecil Banning and wife, Eunice of Hesston, Kansas and Martin (Bud) Banning of Tyrone, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Jerrad Banning and wife, Alyssa, Katarina Phillips and husband, David, Mary Banning, Garth, Garrett, Garron, and Gaven Sheppard, and William and Steven Roberts; and two great-grandchildren, Aspen Banning and Kaitlin Phillips.  He was preceded in death by his parents;  his wife, Wanda on July 22, 2007; great-grandson, Keagan Phillips; a sister, Jean Weber; and two brothers, Lowell and Delbert.

Funeral services were held Thursday, September 8, 2011 at the Faith Baptist Church in Johnson, Kansas with Pastor Carl Kissell and Pastor Robert Phillips officiating.  Burial followed in the Stanton County Cemetery in Johnson, Kansas.  Memorials may be given to the Stanton County Historical Society or the Stanton County Relay for Life in care of Garnand Funeral Home, P.O. Box 715, Johnson, Kansas 67855.

(published in the Prairie Star 9/14/2011)

[Ole Granny]

My sympathy to the Banning family.