Jack Sloan

Jack Haze Sloan was born February 18, 1921 in Mullinville, KS. He was the third of eight children born to Chalmers and Rachel Sloan. He attended Fort Hays State College, where he met his future wife, Thelma Mae Riggs. After graduation, Jack served our country as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He married Thelma on June 17, 1945 when he was home on leave. For a short time, they made their home in Virginia Beach, VA, where Jack became an instructor at the Amphibious Training Base for the LST. Jack and Thelma were married until the time of her death in 2008.
Jack was a devoted husband, father of three daughters, grandfather of five, and great-grandfather of five. He was passionately committed to education – of his daughters and of the countless children he taught and coached. Later, he served as superintendent of several school systems in Kansas. Thelma and Jack moved to Overbrook in 1972 when Jack became the unified school district superintendent. After retiring he was a long time volunteer at the Kansas State Historical Museum.
Jack was known, to his grandchildren, as the creator of treasure hunts, with mysterious maps and clues that had the children searching all through the valley behind their home in Overbrook. He was an avid reader and enjoyed hearing and sharing a story. Jack loved to share a meal with family and was fond of Thelma's cooking and baking, particularly the "little beauties" – her homemade dinner rolls. Jack enjoyed retirement and stayed in good health in part due to the long, brisk walks. He treasured family, keeping in regular touch with his siblings, cousins, and nieces and nephews, and enjoying the Sloan Family Reunions for over fifty years.
As many of his generation, Jack was resolute and, in the face of trials, was stoic. But this belied his fair, generous and loving heart, the way he enjoyed a funny story or a fond memory, and his unwavering love for family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Jack is survived by daughters, Cindy Whitham and husband, Wade, of Prairie Village, KS; Michele Italiano and husband, Lou, of Centennial, CO; son-in-law Keith Carlat of Indianola, IA; five grand-children, Jessica (Carlat) Stoner and husband, Perry, of Lincoln, NE; Jennifer Carlat and husband, Jonathan Norris, of Nashville, TN; James Carlat and wife, Amy, of Ames, IA; Adrienne Whitham and Natalie Italiano; and five great grand-children, Eliot and Emily Stoner, and Julia, Anna and Jack Carlat (Ames, IA). He is also survived by his brother Clark Sloan, and sisters Faye Hargadine and Carole Kullbom. He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, and their daughter, Diana Sloan Carlat.