John M Hallberg

John Martin Hallberg, 54, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away October 29, 2011 after a year-long battle with cancer. John died peacefully at home with family and friends by his side. At 6’7’, “Big John” was a tall man with a huge heart. John married the love of his life, Teri, in 1996. Their journey together was guided by deep love and affection, and they spent many happy weekends at their family home at the Lake of the Ozarks. Everyone John met quickly became his buddy. John and his family owned Industrial Equipment, a company started by John and Susan's father. John and his business partner, Scott Duncan, continued the family company where John continued to make sales calls until just a few weeks ago.

John was born in Kansas City, Missouri to John William and Joanne Gay Hallberg. He attended Center High School and was a drummer for the Marching Yellowjackets. He earned Bachelors Degrees in Business and Psychology from UMKC where he was a proud member of the TKE fraternity.

When John was nine, he started playing the drums and never stopped. He played in many bands over the years and studied percussion at UMKC with Dennis Rogers and Charmaine Asher-Wiley. John loved being a drummer and his joyful spirit was never more apparent than when he was sitting behind his Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals. He was a member of the UMKC percussion ensemble, played in a wedding band, Buddy Boswell’s Opry in Edgerton, MO, the Sundowner’s country show in Higginsville, MO, and at Colonial Presbyterian Church for 20 years. John traveled with the band Cedar Ridge, and often told fond stories of his days on the road playing gigs.

John loved model trains and always requested new pieces for Christmas to add to his extensive set. He bowled non-competitively with friends, and threw a gutter ball or an explosive strike with equal gusto, at times throwing the ball down the wrong lane. John always had time to tell a joke or weave a yarn and gave his time freely to anyone who needed a kind word. He was also known to be late, but this was due to his generosity of spirit and dedication to others.

John is survived by Teri, his stepchildren, Martina and Nathan Gourley, his mother Joanne Hallberg (Mike Sheridan), and sister Susan Seck (Norm Witmer). He also leaves his niece Lyndsey Seck, who affectionately nicknamed him “Otto,” his granddaughter, Natalie Park, to whom he was “Gramps,” and Teri’s parents brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews. John was preceded in death by his father, John William Hallberg.

John was a man of great faith and claimed Jesus as his Lord and Savior. John recently told us he was looking forward to taking his canine friends Annie and Malachi for a stroll in paradise with Dad and his friends Guy and Tim.

All adored and loved Big John. He will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be Colonial Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. John’s life will be celebrated at Colonial Presbyterian Church on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest donations in John’s memory to Colonial Presbyterian Church, 9500 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64114 or the Turning Point Center for Hope and Healing, 8900 State Line Road, Suite 240, Leawood, KS 66206.

Offer condolences for the family at www.McGilley-Frye.com Arrangements under the direction of McGilley & Frye Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Olathe, Kan.