GREAT BEND — Jack Callaway was born Lonnie Alvin Cowden, Jr., on Oct. 19, 1923, to Lonnie Alvin Cowden and Effie Ellen Dines Cowden in Kansas City. He died Jan. 22 at Sterling Presbyterian Manor in Sterling. At the age of five, Jack was adopted by Walter Q. and Fannie Callaway and was given the name Jack. He was raised west of Galena on a small farm. He attended and graduated from a two room grade school in Cherokee County. For three years, he attended the Riverton High School and graduated from the Galena High School in 1942. Jack entered the Army in November, 1942 during World War 11. He was discharged in January, 1946 and was called back to military duty during the Korean Conflict in November, 1950. He was discharged nine months later.

Jack and Marilyn J. McCormack were united in marriage June 6, 1943 in Bentonville, Ark., while he was home on furlough. To this union, three children were born. They were married 45 years when Marilyn died.

After serving his country, he returned to Galena and went to work for the Empire District Electric Company. He and Marilyn became active in the Galena Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1949, they made the decision to go into ministry through the Methodist Church. Receiving a license to preach in 1949, Mr. Callaway was ordained a deacon in 1956 and an elder in 1958. He attended and graduated from Baker University, where he received the Bachelor of Arts degree, and Perkins School of Theology received the BD degree at SMU. While attending college, he was assigned to the Fontana-Begal-Twin Springs Charge in 1949. Other student appointments in Kansas were at Pomona-Michigan Valley and Mound City-Wesley Chapel-Farlinville.

In Texas while attending seminary, he served Spanish Fort-Bonita-Shady Grove and Era-Spring Creek. His first appointment after seminary was Spring Hill in the Kansas East Conference. Then, on to Kansas West in 1960 where he served Rose Hill-Seltzer Springs charge (on this charge a church was built and then a parsonage), Ashland, Isabel-Sawyer, Little River, Conway Springs-Milton, Norcator-Clayton-Lyle, Claflin-Hoisington Vine. He retired in June, 1988.

Jack and Geraldine Tempero were united in marriage on April 16, 1989. She preceded him in death on Dec. 10, 2011.

Survivors include one son, Robert Callaway and wife Brenda of Ottawa; one daughter Janette Hill and husband Harlan of Sterling; one step-son, Scott Tempero of Great Bend; three step-daughters, Debra Lewis and husband Tim of Great Bend, Susan Payne and husband Brooks of Berrien Springs, Mich., and Kathryn Anstaett and husband Don of Warsaw, Mo.; two brothers, Wayne Cowden and David Cowden both of Iowa; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; 10 step-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Lois Cowden; and a son, Mark Callaway.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Little River United Methodist Church in Little River with Pastor Theresa Forshee officiating. Burial will follow at the Bean Cemetery in Little River. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Nicholson Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church on Thursday. Memorials are suggested to Methodist Youthville in Newton in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.