John Edwin Grummon, 80, passed away Nov. 21, 2023, at his home in Great Bend after a three-year illness.  John was born April 2, 1943, in Omaha, Neb. to Daniel and Elda (Goff) Grummon.  

His family moved to Walters, Okla., where his parents served as American Baptist Home Missionaries to Native American churches. John excelled in school academics, music, and was very athletic, playing football, basketball, and track in high school. He graduated from Walters High School in 1961, graduated from Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kan., in 1965, and married Dee Anne Baldwin. He graduated from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Kan., in 1969, served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Marysville, Kan., for five years, and the Beloit-Simpson Baptist Parish for 22 years. 

Pastoral care was always a natural gift in John’s ministry. He loved people and learning their stories.  In 1996, he took a one-year CPE Residency at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., to pursue a career as a chaplain. John and Dee Anne moved to Great Bend where he served as chaplain for Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital in Larned, and also Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice until retirement in 2014. John continued to volunteer for GBHH until his health issues prevailed.

John was an active layman of Central Baptist Church, Great Bend, serving on boards, committees, and choir as long as his health allowed. As a board-certified Chaplain, he was endorsed by ABC-USA, belonged to the Association of Professional Chaplains, and was long-time treasurer of the Kansas Association of Chaplains.

John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dee Anne, and two sons, Daniel Grummon (Ivan), Toronto, Canada, David Grummon (Miranda), Shawnee, Kan., grandsons, Joshua and Isaiah Grummon, and one sister, Donna Pena (Ramon), Mesa, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, George Grummon. John was admired and much loved by in-laws, nieces, and cousins.

A Celebration of Life is planned for 1:30 p.m. (CST), Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at Central Baptist Church, 3301 Lakin St., Great Bend.  The service will be live streamed at www.centralbaptistchurchofgb.com on Facebook. Memorials have been designated to Central Baptist Church or Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS  67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 30, 2023