John C. Kohn

John C. Kohn was born on January 1, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the fourth of seven children of John P. and Juliana A. (Pestka) Kohn. In 1943, after graduating from St. Gregory High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy Air Corps. John served in the Pacific theatre of World War II as a radioman and turret gunner aboard a B24. He was awarded the Air Medal with two gold stars for heroic and meritorious achievement in aerial flight.

Following the war, John returned to Chicago and began a career in sales. After several years honing his skills from the bottom up, John landed a coveted sales job at Mars Candy Company. In 1951, Mars was known as a company that only hired well trained, experienced salesmen and “paid them the salary of two men but expected them to do the work of three men.” This appealed to John’s strong work ethic and belief that if you put your head down and work hard, success will follow.

While working in New York City, he met Margaret Lynch, a second grade school teacher from rural Vermont. They were married on July 3, 1954, at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Poultney, Vermont. John was promoted to territory manager and transferred to Kansas City in 1960. In 1964 Mars merged with M&M and he became responsible for sales in most of Missouri and Kansas for the new company. He retired in 1987 as a Unit Sales Manager.

John enthusiastically loved baseball, Christmas and especially his family. From the time he was eight years old, he and his brother would hitchhike the two miles to Wrigley Field in the summer to cheer for the Cubs from the top of the bleachers. When he wasn’t watching baseball he was playing baseball and he continued to play baseball and softball until his job and parenting duties intervened. After moving to Kansas City, John was a diehard fan of the Kansas City A’s and then the Kansas City Royals. One of his fondest memories was attending the 1985 World Series.

Christmas was always a magical time in the Kohn household. John embraced all aspects of the celebration; from decorating inside and out to cooking and baking in the tradition of his German ancestors. As he transitioned from Dad to Grandpa, John became a boisterous, rather convincing, Santa Claus complete with a department store quality Santa suit. He truly was Father Christmas.

His greatest love and most lasting legacy was his family. John and Margaret raised five children, including a daughter Alice, who was severely mentally and developmentally disabled with Down Syndrome. John and Margaret cared for Alice for her entire 33 years at home. The love and care that he showed by making “My Angel Girl” the center of the Kohn household was truly remarkable, especially for the 1960’s. It made an indelible impression on his other four children.

John was a charter member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. He was active in the More Friends Senior Citizens group and served as their president. John was a proud fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

John is survived by a son; Dr. Jack (Barbara) Kohn and three daughters; Juliann (Richard) Bernard, Donna (Jaime) Campoverde, and Ann (James) Greene. Grandchildren John (Ronen) Kohn, III, William (Brittany) Kohn, Peter (Rachna) Kohn, Kristina Kohn, Patrick (Kate) Bernard, Maggie (Ryan) O’Neal, Molly Bernard, Katie Bernard, Michael Campoverde, Daniel Campoverde and Mariel Campoverde. Great Grandsons Nicholas Kohn, Logan Kohn and Ahijit Kohn.

He is also survived by his brother in law, Dr. Michael Lynch, and sister in law, Denise Kohn.

John was preceded in death by his wife Margaret in 2020, his daughter Alice in 1993, his parents and all of his siblings.

The family would like to thank Kingswood Senior Living for their care of John and Margaret. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Kansas City Hospice.

A visitation for John will be held at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m.