John Conklin

John Conklin of Horton, KS, passed away at 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2017 at St. Francis in Topeka, KS.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Cathy Jo Conklin Gibe from Jay, OK, who passed away in 1992. He has two children: David Conklin of Jay, OK and John Conklin, Jr. of Lawrence, six grandchildren and one great grandson. He was preceded in death by his mother, Wynema Conklin Reynolds, his father, Ted Conklin, his brother Teddy Conklin, Jr., a sister, Mary Knoxsah and his nephew Jeremy Wandell.

His living siblings include Jean Conklin, Gastonia, N.C., Nancy Schlichting, Hiawatha and Cindy Kelly, Lawrence. John will be greatly missed by his family, including his nieces and nephews: Jason Wandell, Chala Wandell, Josh Wandell, Quintin Wandell, Nova Deckman, Rebekka Herrera, Mara Schlichting, Julie Kaniatobe, Samuel Kelly, Quanna Shaad, Aaron Shaad, Shona Knoxsah, Alex Knoxsah, and Armando Knoxsah.

John attended Haskell Indian Junior College in the 1970s for Electronics. He frequented the Kickapoo Senior’s Center and acquired many friendships. John represented his father Ted Conklin in Gourd Dancing.  He was a lay speaker for Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. He worked at Deffenbaugh and was a school bus driver. John liked watching videos, spending time on his computer, playing guitar, riding motorcycles, and was a very talented sketch artist.

Born on June 15, 1953, he lived in Oklahoma, California, New Mexico, on the Kickapoo Reservation, Lawrence, and Kansas City. John is an enrolled member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, as well as a descendant of the Wichita, Caddo and Delaware Tribes. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. today, Oct. 15th followed by a meal at the George Ogden Building, 3345 Thrasher Road, White Cloud, KS.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Kickapoo Senior Center, sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603.