Harlan Keith Spatz

We are sad to announce that Harlan Keith Spatz of Overland Park, KS passed away on May 22, 2023 at age 92 from prostate cancer. He was with family and passed peacefully. He is survived by his two sons Gregory Keith (Jacqueline) and Jeffrey Mark (Nancy), stepson Russell Arn (Cindy), and three grandchildren.

Harlan was born July 14, 1930 in Olivet, KS, the youngest of two sons of his father Wilson Althous and mother Doris Mary (Williams). His mother, who had immigrated from Wales at age three, died when he was eleven. Growing up in Olivet, KS, he and his brother Earl Dennis learned to be independent and work hard from an early age. For Harlan this included helping his father who owned the local grocery store doing such chores as delivering flour, selling live chickens and grinding hamburger. He made extra money participating in county organized coyote and rabbit hunts, worked the local seasonal farm harvests, and even bought and hand delivered an entire train car load of coal to local customers,

Harlan moved to Emporia, KS in his senior year of high school, then attended Emporia State Teacher’s College. His college career was interrupted when he enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War, serving for three years before returning to Emporia to complete his bachelor’s degree in business. There he met and married Barbara June Van Sickle of Reading, KS, the mother of his three children, including his daughter Lisa Deon who died at age 28. After graduating Harlan worked for Goodyear Tire Co. as a store manager in multiple locations, until he was enticed by a college instructor to become a stock-broker for the George K. Baum Co. After a short time with Baum in Emporia and Scott City, KS, “Ted” Jones, the founder of Edward D. Jones Investments, convinced him to come work for him. He opened the company's 5th office (today over 14,000 offices) in Great Bend, KS in 1962. With his talent for relationships he enjoyed a thriving investment business until retiring at age 58. His retirement was spent in Overland Park, KS, Lake of the Ozarks, MO, and Naples, FL before returning to Overland Park in 2015.

Harlan's lifelong interests included basketball, golf and fishing to name a few, but his greatest passion was gardening. From vegetables to flowers to palm trees to orchids, he fervently cared for his gardens up until the time of his passing. He was highly involved in the Great Bend community, including stints as President of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. In the early 1970's he was involved in the planning, building, and operation of Barton County Community Jr. College, and served as a trustee of the college. He spent countless hours supporting the nationally prominent basketball program as a booster and was inducted into the Booster Club Hall of Fame. He met the love of his life Nancy Preston in Overland Park shortly after retiring, and they enjoyed a wonderful 26 year marriage until her passing in 2015

He will be laid to rest at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City, MO in a private ceremony.

Harlan requests that memorials be sent to the Lisa Spatz-Smith Scholarship Fund, c/o Barton Community College Foundation, 245 NE 30 Rd, Great Bend, KS 67530, or the Spatz Community Center, c/o City of Olivet, 388B Avenue, Lebo, KS 66856.