Richard S. “Dick” Jarman passed away on June 7, 2026, in Overland Park, Kansas, surrounded by the love of his family after a courageous battle with leukemia. He was 79 years old.

Dick was born on February 5, 1947, at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, to James and Bernice Jarman. As the son of a career Air Force officer and decorated World War II fighter pilot, he spent much of his childhood moving from place to place as military assignments took the family across the United States and overseas. By the time he graduated from high school, he had attended fourteen schools and lived in locations that ranged from Montana, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Those experiences helped shape a young man who was comfortable meeting new people, adapting to new situations, and finding common ground wherever he went.

Dick attended Great Falls High School in Montana, where he was active in athletics, student organizations, and academics. He was a National Honor Society student, participated in football, basketball, and track, and twice earned All-State recognition in hurdles. Summers were often spent working on Montana ranches and exploring the Bob Marshall Wilderness with friends, experiences he would remember fondly throughout his life.

Recognized for his academic achievement and leadership potential, Dick received appointments to several United States service academies and chose to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.

At West Point, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science and became deeply involved in class activities and student leadership. He was elected Vice President of the Class of 1969 and, during his senior year, served as a Cadet Captain on the Brigade Staff, a small select group of senior leaders at the Academy. His classmates respected him for his steady leadership, good judgment, friendly demeanor, and ability to bring people together.

After graduation, Dick continued serving the Class of 1969 as its Vice President for more than five decades. He remained actively involved in reunions, class activities, and supporting classmates and their families. Through the years, many classmates came to view him not only as an officer of the class, but as one of the people who helped grow the esprit de corps of a "band of brothers."

Following graduation in June 1969, Dick was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. This is when he met his future wife, Jane, and entered pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. After earning his wings, he became a KC-135 pilot and aircraft commander.

During the Vietnam War, Dick flew twenty-seven combat missions in support of operations over North Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia. During this time, he was in the 46th Air Refueling Squadron of the Strategic Air Command, where he held responsibilities as both an aircraft commander and an Alert Force Supervisor.

His military decorations included the Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and other service awards and ribbons. His Air Force Commendation Medal Citation recognized his managerial expertise, leadership abilities, and contributions to mission readiness and operational effectiveness.

Dick completed his Air Force service with the rank of Captain and was honorably discharged in 1974.

Dick married Jane in February 1971 and began a marriage that would span more than fifty-five years.

After leaving active military service, Dick returned to Kansas City and joined Butler Manufacturing Company as an engineer. While working full-time, he continued his education, earning a Master of Science degree in Operations Research from the University of Missouri in 1977, and later became a Registered Professional Engineer.

Over the next twenty-six years, he held a wide variety of engineering, manufacturing, operations, and management positions within Butler. His career took him from product development and plant operations to divisional and executive leadership.

Dick eventually became President of Butler's Buildings Division and later Executive Vice President of Butler Manufacturing Company.

After Butler, Dick pursued a long-held entrepreneurial ambition and founded Sceptor Industries, a company focused on chemical and biological detection technologies. Under his leadership, the company grew rapidly and received national recognition. Sceptor was named one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States, and Dick was recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year National Finalist.

His success in business led to additional leadership opportunities, including executive positions with CST Industries and, later, the creation of Jarman Executive Search. Through his search practice, he helped companies identify leaders and helped countless executives navigate important career decisions.

Community involvement remained important throughout his life. He served two terms as Chairman of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association and devoted substantial time to organizations that focused on education, rehabilitation, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. His service included leadership roles with the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City - Ability KC, INROADS, the Rockhurst University Business School Advisory Board, the Nelson-Atkins Museum Business Council, and the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program.

To his friends, he was “Jar,"

To his family, he was Granddad or DDad or Dad, or Dickie.

Some of his favorite family memories were created around dinner tables, during holiday gatherings, lake weekends, and family vacations. He will be greatly missed by everyone who loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jane; his son, Michael Jarman, and his fiancée, Melissa Oakman; his daughter, Jennifer Branner, and her husband Brian Branner; his grandchildren Erika Jarman, Abigail Jarman, Matthew Hanson, Gabrielle Pritchet, Whitney Branner, and Audrey Branner; his sister, Wendy Powell, and her husband George Powell III.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Colonel James T. Jarman and Bernice Jarman.

Services will be held at Village Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 27th, 2026, at 2:00 pm.

A reception will be held at the Kansas City Country Club immediately following, starting at 3:00 pm.