Jack L. Hartford, 83, of Leeton, Missouri, died Monday, Sept. 25, at Country Club Care Center.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home with Brother Charles Brant officiating.

Pallbearers will be Billy Jo Hartford, Jeremy “Jay” Terry, Ryan Michael, Hunter Wilson, Hayden Wilson, Jack Van Norman, Patrick Ballard, DJ Ballard and Colton Jack Hartford. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home.

He was born in Palmer, Nebraska, on Feb. 13, 1934, the son of Charles Seth and Evelyn Irene (Wimp) Hartford. He and Norma Ferguson were united in marriage Aug. 30, 1952, in Ansley, Nebraska. She preceded him in death on June 22, 2003, after 50 years of marriage. He and Mary Ballard were married Sept. 25, 2003, in Leeton, Missouri.

Jack retired from the U.S. Air Force as a senior master sergeant. He retrieved downed aircraft during the Vietnam War and later served as a boom operator, refueling airplanes during flight. He also retired from the state of Missouri. He worked as a supervisor at the physical plant at UCM.

Jack is survived by his wife, Mary, of Leeton. From his marriage with Norma he leaves
four daughters, Laurie (James) Wilson, of Leeton; Jackie (Dennis) Cox, of Basehor, Kansas; Patty (Randy) Van Norman, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; and Chrissy (Chris) Lake, of Lee’s Summit; four stepchildren, Nicholas (Rebecca) Ballard, Tom (Karen) Ballard, and Terry (Sherri) Ballard, all of Bonner Springs, Kansas; and Tammy (Tom) Rousello, of Basehor; 11 grandchildren, Carey Wolf, Melissa Terry, Ronni Hannon, Lacey Webster, Ryan Michael, Jack Van Norman, Cali Van Norman, Ross Buehre, Shannon Buehre, DJ Ballard, and Patrick Ballard; two sisters, Mary Gay, of Palmer, Nebraska; and Judy Sample, of Aurora, Nebraska; his poodle, Teddy; and numerous great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Norma; a great-granddaughter, Madison Webster; three brothers, Dennis, Bill and Jimmy Hartford; and a sister in infancy, Sally Hartford.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Warrensburg American Legion Post 131 or the Wolfner Memorial Library and can be left in care of the funeral home.