John Ellis Waller passed away at Addington Place in Prairie Village, early Sunday morning, April 26, 2026, at the age of 98. John was remarkably active, healthy, and sharp well into his 90s. In the last two years of his life, he showed signs of dementia and started a slow decline.

John was energetic beyond his years throughout his life. He waterskied into his 80s and walked a mile every day well into his 90s. He enjoyed social gatherings, whether with family, friends, or acquaintances. He was engaged and charming, always “rising to the occasion”.

John was born on January 21, 1928, in Kewanee, Illinois, the youngest of three children. He enjoyed a lively upbringing living in the “farm house”, a beautiful home remembered for its “lovely suites, fine library, spacious halls, and restful living rooms”. He attended boarding school at The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, and graduated from Princeton University in 1951.

He was engaged to Mary Rhea Dulles when the federal government provided what John wryly described as “an all-expense paid 18-month trip to Korea” when his unit of the National Guard was called up for duty. John married Mary Rhea on November 10, 1951, before he went from Kewanee to Fort Benning, Georgia, for office training and onto active duty in Korea. While in Korea, “his troops were in a bunker and he came through without a casualty, except for the hearing loss in one ear, due to the firing of the guns.”

From his teenage years until his final years, John was drawn to nature; he especially loved being on or near the water. From learning to sail competitively at Fish Creek, Wisconsin as a teenager to sailing the Flying Junior on the Lake of the Ozarks to flying his kites at the ocean beach on Sanibel Island, he enjoyed his passion.

John was a devoted family man, married twice. He married Mary Rhea Dulles, his sister’s roommate, whom he met in NYC while attending Princeton. They had 3 children, Marion (Paulette), Sally (Wetzig), and Peter (Waller). Starting out in Kewanee, Illinois, John worked for the Boss Manufacturing Co., overseeing manufacturing facilities. In 1965, the family moved to Overland Park, KS, where John continued his career in the apparel business as a merchandise manager for the H.D. Lee Co. in Kansas City.

Camping trips and weekends at the family cabin at Lake of the Ozarks were treasured highlights. Memories were made, sailing, water skiing, adding additions to the cabin, and relaxing at the Lake with friends and family, enjoying the spectacular view with a cold drink in hand.

John married Joan Disney in 1986. He played an important role in raising Joan’s two teenage daughters, Mignon and Annie. John and Joan were active in the Kansas City social life and attended sports events together. In retirement, John took on the ambitious project of designing and building his dream house at Lake of the Ozarks, on a point of land with an amazing view. It is a large house with room for grandkids to visit and continues the legacy of lake life. Friends, family, visitors, and especially son Peter assisted with the multi-year project.

His love of nature and the outdoors was evident in all his homes. He was always an avid gardener. With Mary Rhea he created a lovely yard in Overland Park, transforming a bare lot into an inviting outdoor living space. Later at Claridge Court, he headed the gardening committee planting tomatoes, peppers, beans on the “bean machine,” and even corn. Every year, he would carefully tend the dahlias, storing them in his dark closet over the winter and planting them each spring, eagerly awaiting their large, colorful blossoms.

John had nine grandchildren, “perfect for a baseball team,” as he liked to say. He attended many graduations, weddings, and milestone events for his kids and grandkids in Kansas, Colorado, or across the country. At the time of John’s death, he had 11 great-grandkids, including 2 newborns.

Everyone will remember John’s sweet tooth and his special fondness for chocolate chip cookies!

We’ll deeply miss our gregarious, fun-loving, life of the party, John, who enjoyed conversations, sharing his vast knowledge of historical information, and love of life.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 6, 2026, at Thompson Barn at  4:00, located at 11184 Lackman Rd. Lenexa, KS 66219.

The family suggests any donations be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation.