Magda Helene Lovell

Magda Helene (Wehner) Lovell went to be with her beloved husband Jack in heaven on Friday, June 17th, 2016. She is survived by daughters Penny Lovell and Deborah Bauer, a son-in-law, Stephen Bauer, and four grandchildren: Stephanie (John) Chanthavong, Jack (Amy) Bauer, Nicholas Bauer, and Daniel Lovell. She is also survived by 5 great grandchildren: Alex and Onalee Chanthavong, and Nathan, Luke, and Jacob Bauer, as well as many loved nieces and nephews.

Magda was born on August 24th, 1925, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Frank and Martha Wehner. She had two brothers, Richard and Gordon, and one sister, Carol, all of whom preceded her in death. She graduated early from Kansas City University (now called the University of Missouri at Kansas City--UMKC) with a degree in Spanish. She married Jack Lovell, whom she met while roller skating, during the years she was working as a business translator. She discontinued working when their first child was born. She was a devoted wife and mother, even pitching in to be a Camp Fire Leader, and was a wonderful cook. She loved her family, beautiful music, riding in a convertible with the top down, playing cards, and traveling. When her children were grown she traveled with Jack on his business trips, even driving part of the time. She and her husband also took wonderful vacations to England, France, Italy, and Hong Kong, as well as a cruise, and did extensive traveling with-in the U.S.

You will always be in our hearts. With all our love 'til we meet again -- XOXO -- your family

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---- Jack Farrel Lovell ----

Jack Farrel Lovell passed away on September 24, 2015 at the age of 88. He was born on August 18, 1927 in the small town of Henrietta, Missouri. His father, Oakley Lovell, owned a grocery store in their small town and his mother, Alice Lovell, took care of Jack and his older brother Glenn. Jack was a Boy Scout and attended Henrietta Elementary School until 1938, at which time the family relocated to Kansas City, Missouri so his father could find work, having lost his store in the Great Depression. In Kansas City, Jack attended Faxon Elementary School and later Central High School.

In high school, Jack prepared to serve his country by participating in the ROTC program all 4 years, graduating as an officer. He also worked at the Pla-Mor Roller Rink for many years, where he would go on to meet the love of his life, Magda Wehner. As a member of The Waltz Skating Club as well as the El Torreon Shoe Skaters Club, Jack was a very talented dance skater and taught lessons as well as competing. He said he would always look around for the best skater in the rink and that would be the girl he would ask to skate, that is unless a girl there was very pretty. Magda was not a skater.

Jack joined the United States Army in 1945. As a proud American, he served for 2 years in Army Intelligence in the 60th Signal Service Corp, stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington. He was very proud that his Company cracked the Japanese Code during World War II. In his later years, he and Magda enjoyed many reunions around the country with the 60th Signal Corp, hosting one himself in 1996 in Kansas City.

After the War ended, Jack returned to Kansas City, Missouri and the Pla-Mor Roller Rink. One night, he asked Magda Wehner to skate and, on their first date, he told her that he was going to marry her someday. She thought he was crazy, but he did indeed marry her, on December 27, 1952 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Also in 1952, Jack went to work for Pocket Books, which was owned by Simon & Schuster. He worked for that company for 41 years as a traveling salesman, calling on bookstores primarily in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska until his retirement in 1993. Sometimes he would take his family with him on his business trips and he enjoyed his job. He always said he would have kept working longer were it not for his arthritis. He made many good friends in the book business and was frequently his company’s top salesman. Upon his retirement, he was rewarded with many gifts from Simon & Schuster, including a car as well as tickets to the Lyric Opera and the Kansas City Symphony, among other things.

During the years that he was working, Jack found time to take Magda to Europe, on a tour of London, Paris, and Rome. He was proud to be able to pronounce the names of major streets and landmarks in Paris, never having formally learned a foreign language. Jack and Magda also enjoyed a trip to Hong Kong, where the astronaut Jim Lovell happened to be speaking. Jack and Magda were escorted to the front row at that event, the highlight of their trip. He also took his family by car on many vacations to San Diego (including several trips to Disneyland) and to Six Flags over Texas.

Following his retirement, Jack became a full-time babysitter for his youngest grandson, Daniel Jackson Lovell. He and Magda took care of Danny daily until Danny was in middle school. No one was more devoted to his family than Jack. During these later years, Jack and Magda went with their daughter Penny and Danny to Disneyworld in 2005 and again in 2007. Jack enjoyed speeding around Disneyworld on a scooter and eating at Disney restaurants, especially the Kona Café at the Polynesian Resort. He loved their Prime Rib and ordered it several times. In 2009, Jack and Magda vacationed again with Penny and Danny, this time on a Princess cruise to the Caribbean (Jamaica, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman), enjoying a large stateroom with a balcony. On his cruise, Jack made friends with the captain of the ship and the Maitre D’ of the restaurant. He loved eating in the ship’s dining room. He also loved the entertainment, especially since a violin player looked just like his best friend Bill, who had been gone for many years. Jack frequently reminisced about his cruise, one of the highlights of his retirement years.

Jack was a long-time member of Valley View United Methodist Church, where he served and an usher and helped with the offerings.

More than anything, Jack loved his family. Jack and Magda had 2 daughters, Deborah Bauer (Steve) and Penny Lovell. He also had 4 grandchildren (Stephanie Chanthavong , Jack Bauer, Nicholas Bauer, and Daniel Lovell), 5 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oakley and Alice Lovell, and his brother Glenn Lovell.