Francis James “Skeeter” Weas

Francis James "Skeeter" Weas, 88, Holton, Kansas, passed away suddenly Aug. 24, 2018 at Holton Community Hospital. He was born June 8, 1930 in West Liberty, Iowa, to Fred and Mary Weas and grew up in West Liberty.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1949 and served four years during the Korean War, stationed at an Army base in Alaska as a radioman. After the war he returned to West Liberty and became a meat cutter.

On July 3, 1954 he married the love of his life, Barbara Swailes, in Kahoka, Missouri. They were married 64 years and had one son, Michael James Weas.

Skeeter was employed by Rath Packing Company in sales for many years and worked in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; El Paso, Texas; Hannibal, Missouri, and Kansas City, Missouri. Later he worked for several food brokers in Kansas City and had his own brokerage firm. He retired in 1992, and after 27 years of living in Overland Park and Shawnee, Kansas, moved to Holton in 1993.

Family was the center of Skeeter's universe. He fiercely loved his son and grandchildren, who will remember him for his undivided attention, amazing stories, infectious laughter and ear-to-ear smile. When Mike was young, Skeeter enjoyed coaching youth basketball and watching his son play football and run track. He looked forward to the family's annual vacations to Colorado for many years and was known to tell a tale or two about the fish that got away. He loved to travel, especially trips he won for being a top salesman, and Skeeter and Barb enjoyed adventures to the Caribbean Islands, England and Scotland. A highlight was a trip to Washington, DC with his son to visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

He loved to play pool, tell jokes, and listen to his favorite music. Skeeter never knew a stranger, and could strike up a conversation with anyone. He was passionate about many topics and would debate with the best of them, and he was famous for his letters to the editor. He was a Kansas Jayhawk basketball fanatic and loved to attend games at Allen Fieldhouse. He was a regular at the Holton Senior Citizens Center. Skeeter was a genuinely good, kind, and most of all, wise man.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of Holton; his son, Mike, of Topeka; his grandchildren: Casey Hughes of Pine, Colorado; Benjamin Weas and Patrick Weas of Lawrence, Kansas; a great-grandson, Hunter Hughes of Pine, Colorado; his daughter-in-law, Janice Early of Lawrence, Kansas; three sisters: Kathleen Schomer, Muscatine, Iowa; Virginia Filbrandt, Davenport, Iowa; and Janet Tri, Marion, Iowa; one brother, Lyle Weas, Bettendorf, Iowa; a brother-in-law, Raymond Swailes of Orlando, Florida; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters: Winifred, Marge and Evelyn; and a brother, Frank.

No service was planned. Memorials are suggested to Holton Senior Citizens Center or Heart of Jackson Humane Shelter in Holton.