Visitation will be Friday, November 16 from 5-8 pm at McGilley State Line Chapel (123rd & Stateline).
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 17 at 11 am at The United Methodist
Church of the Resurrection (135th & Roe) in Leawood, KS. Burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
located on Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, KS. directly following the funeral service.
John was born May 3, 1934 in Topeka, KS. He was raised in Waverly, IA, and graduated
High School in 1952. Then drafted by the St. Louis Browns in the same year and played
professional baseball for the next 5 years. He ended his career in 1957 playing for the Lake
Charles Giants of the Evangeline league in Lake Charles, LA. John attended Wartburg
College in Waverly, IA. and graduated in 1957 with a BA Degree. While attending Wartburg
he met Sharon Folkerts and they married in 1959 after she graduated from Wartburg.
John started his automotive career soon after they were married and moved to Kansas City
in 1966 to open his first dealership with General Motors, which was a Buick franchise.
Throughout his career in Kansas City, which spanned 46 years, he owned and operated many award winning dealerships, which included Honda, Acura, Buick, Dodge, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki,
Subaru and Toyota. Most Kansas City residents will remember him as the “Smasher” and his dealerships being the home of “Desk Smashing Good Deals”. John owned Honda, Suzuki and Hyundai in the St. Louis area. He also enjoyed success in the Iowa City, IA. automotive arena. He owned and operated Honda, Mercedes, Volvo, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mitsubishi and Suzuki. John opened his Honda store in Iowa with Chicago Football legend Gale Sayers in 1988 and was a 6 time Honda President’s Award winner. John was a large contributor to the University of Iowa women’s athletic program and also many other local schools and charitable organizations.
John was an avid duck hunter. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and was inducted into the
Water Fowlers Hall of Fame in 2004 in Mound City, MO. This honor was more dear to his heart than
one could imagine. He owned duck hunting property in Mound City, MO. and Mendon, MO. He
would spend every fall doing what he loved, especially when the wind was blowing out of the
northwest and the ducks were flying. His love for hunting started when he was a young boy
hunting squirrels and ducks on the farm with his brothers Ed and Don in Waverly, IA. John was bigger
than life, never met a stranger and was loved by all. He was a loving husband, father and
grandfather and will be missed by all.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Sharon, his son John W. Chezik of Sweden, his
daughter, Laura Hennessey, son-in-law Bobby Hennessey of Overland Park, 5 grandchildren, Sarah,
John, Michael, Joseph and Matthew. Brother Ed Chezik (Evelyn) of Iowa, Brother Don
Chezik (Elaine) of Kansas City. John is preceded in death by his parents John & Delma
Chezik.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinsons Foundation in Kansas City. Please offer condolences at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com.
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