It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of John Alan Beltz on June 23, 2024, at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife, Jeannie Beltz; his daughter, Dr. Donna Sassman (Doug); his grandson, Zeke Webb; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
John was born on August 7, 1936, to LE and Ruth Beltz at home in Texas County, Missouri. He attended a one-room schoolhouse in Clear Springs until the 8th grade and then attended Willow Springs High School. He was a member of the undefeated Bears football team in the 1950s. He was eager to talk about their undefeated football team and Willow Springs Bear football in general. He regularly attended Willow Springs football games. John went to one year of junior college in Garden City, Kansas, where he met his future wife.
John served in the US Navy aboard the USS Lafayette County LST 859 in the West Pacific. The G.I. bill helped John attend Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri State) and the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he received a Master’s Degree in Industrial Education. He married Wanda Jean Hays of Garden City, Kansas on June 15, 1958. They moved to Springfield Missouri where they both taught school. They moved back to Willow Springs in 1965, to get back to the family farm where his children would grow up in the country. Providing education to his children and others was very important to John; he started the Industrial Arts program in Willow Springs and later became High School principal. In 1976, after sixteen years as a teacher and administrator, John chose to become a full-time rancher in Texas County, Missouri. He had a cow/calf and backgrounding operation, that evolved into fed cattle with retained ownership through a western Kansas feed yard. Adam Webb started working on the ranch in 1992 and has been a wonderful help over all the years. John was a member of the Texas County Cattleman’s Association and Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. He served as President of the Missouri Cattleman’s Association in 1997. He was a supporter of the Willow Springs Scholarship Club. John was also a supporter of the Texas County Memorial Hospital hospice. He partnered with Dr. IC Keeney to purchase a steer at the Texas County Fair, and the proceeds were donated to hospice.
Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 27, 2024 at First Baptist Church, Willow Springs, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 28, 2024, also at First Baptist Church in Willow Springs, Missouri, with Jason Gunter officiating under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Willow Springs. Interment with military honors will be held in Clear Springs Cemetery, Willow Springs, Missouri. There will be a family-guided memorial service Saturday, June 29 at 10:00 a.m. at Clear Springs Community Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Willow Springs Scholarship Club or Hospice of Care, Houston, Missouri in memory of John A. Beltz. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
