John Lewis Simmons, M.D.

John Lewis Simmons, Leawood, Kansas passed away November 19, 2018. He was born September 1, 1925 to Ruby and Sterling Simmons in Marshall, Missouri. After graduating from Marshall, Missouri High School, he attended the University of Missouri with a major in pre-med before entering the U.S. Navy. After discharge, he completed a Doctor of Medicine degree at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. His internship was at the Medical College of Virginia and his residency at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. After completing a residency in surgery, he chose to do a residency in urology and became North Carolina School of Medicine’s first resident in urology. Following his completion of residency, he joined the faculty where he continued as a faculty member for the next ten years. He then spent one year as Associate Professor of Urology at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee before becoming Chairman of Urology at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Simmons later moved from academia to private practice in St. Louis and Kansas City, where he was Chairman of the Department of Urology at Research Hospital. He was affiliated with medical societies such as Nathan Womack Surgical Society, Kansas City Urological Society, Royal Society of Medicine, and others. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Upon retirement, he and his wife Barb spent time in Vero Beach, Florida and Cashiers, North Carolina.

John is survived by his wife, Barbara Simmons; two stepsons, Tim Frets (Vicky) of Overland Park, Kansas and Steve Frets (Cindy) of Olathe, Kansas; five step-grandchildren, Kara Kersten, Kyle Frets, Trevor Frets, Courtney Frets and Michael Frets; and two step-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Mary Elizabeth Lentz of Lawrence, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his two daughters, Anne and Katherine, and by his parents.

A Celebration of John’s Life will be held from 2:00 - 3:00 PM on Sunday, November 25, 2018, at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 3846 W. 75th Street, Prairie Village, Kansas 66208, or to the Harvester’s Community Food Network, 3801 Topping Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64129.