John Allen Ward

John Allen Ward passed away at his home in rural Bartlesville, Oklahoma on October 31, 2024 at the age of 76. John was born on May 30, 1948 to William T. Ward and Maliea E (Kapoi) Ward in Eureka, Kansas.

John grew up in Andover, Kansas and graduated from Andover High School in 1967. He attended Butler County Community College becoming proficient in electrical instrumentation and mechanical drawing. Following completion of his training John was hired at Koch Industries which launched a lifelong career at various companies as a piping designer for refinery facilities, including co-owning Tech Services & Constructors in Bartlesville, Ok.

Although they later divorced, John married Susan Wilder in 1968, together they had Chad Michael Ward. On June 9, 1973, John married René Yvonne Thornton in Augusta, Ks. John and René shared a lifetime of love and devotion to one another, they created a home that was the center of countless gatherings and celebrations with friends and family. John enjoyed many hobbies-particularly those that involved going fast or had a technical component to them. He loved building and flying remote control airplanes, fly fishing/creating intricate flies, riding motorcycles and fast cars, hunting and target shooting, one of his last hobbies was reloading his ammunition to perfect specifications.

John Ward was larger than life, with a heart of gold and a laugh that filled the room. He was deeply respected by the people he worked with, he had numerous lifetime friendships, and a family that adored him-truly, his was a life well lived.

John is survived by his wife, René and son Chad, both of Bartlesville; daughter, Virginia Thornton of Hutchinson, Ks; five grandchildren: Jordan LaForce of Baldwin City, Ks, Jarrod LaForce and Steven LaForce of Hutchinson, Ks, Natasha LaForce of Chicago, Ill and Alexia Ward of Jacksonville, Fla; five great-grandchildren, Roman and Kaiden LaForce, Lila and Violet LaForce, and Andromeda LaForce Lopez; one brother, Mark and wife, Mary Ward of Derby, and two sisters, Jackie and husband, George Williams of Sheboygan, Wi. and Carol Cofield of Ponca City, Ok. as well as numerous nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-Beckley Ward.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M., January 31, 2026 at Koup Family Funeral Home, in Eureka with Pastor Jerry Smith of the Faith Baptist Church of Andover officiating. Cremation has been effected. Inurnment will follow at Quincy Cemetery, Quincy, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Midland Hospice. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.