John E. Vassar

John E. "Big John" Vassar, 81 of Kansas City, Kansas, died Monday, November 18, 2013 at NorthCare Hospice. Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 22, at Haven Baptist Church, 3430 Hutton Road, Kansas City, Kansas. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens at 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112. Friends may call from 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Church. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to the Church or the American Diabetes Association.

John was born December 30, 1931, in Kansas City, Kansas the son of Walter and Florence Vassar. He had been a deputy sheriff for Wyandotte County and retired as a security officer at the Wyandotte County Annex in 1997. John was a member of Haven Baptist Church and was a deacon in the Baptist Church. He was a 50 year member of the Kansas City Mailers Union #7, where he served as President and Secretary/Treasurer. He was a former president of the Kansas City Kansas Umpires Association, officiating in baseball, football and basketball including the Big 8. He coached Little League baseball and served as president of the Liondotte League and coached girls softball and basketball. John served as President of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #40 while a sheriff's deputy. He was a member of the American Legion, National Rifle Association, and was awarded a Lifetime Membership in the Parent Teachers Association. John was a Marine Corp veteran of the Korean Conflict.

John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marian M. (Barrett) Vassar; 2 daughters and their husbands, Cheri and Richard Weiss of Phoenix, Arizona, Laretha and Terry Peerson of Bonner Springs, Kansas; a son, John B. Vassar of Kansas City, Kansas; grandchildren, Alicia Vassar, Jason Vassar, Laura Rogers and her husband, Jesse, Steve Peerson, Todd Weiss and Troy Weiss; and great grandchildren, Macy, Nick, Justin, Ava and Jenna.

Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.chapelhill-butler.com as burial arrangements are under the direction of Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 701 North 94th Street in Kansas City, Kansas (913)334-3366.