Obituary

Jack Dean Wiseley, 90, of Lee’s Summit, MO, peacefully flew west in the early morning hours of August 13, 2025, at KC Hospice House. Cremation services were handled by Langsford Funeral Home, and a celebration of life will be held there on November 7, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. with a visitation following the service at 1:45 p.m.

He was born March 1, 1935, in Wheaton, MO, to Ulyss and Betty Muriel England Wiseley. After a fire took the life of Jack’s father at age 1, his mother moved to Kansas City for work, while grandmother, Lula May Davis cared for him until Betty established herself. Jack attended Greenwood Elementary, and then Central High School, class of ’53. He loved playing trumpet in school as well as local dance bands, one being the Danny Shields Band. ”Big Band” music was the rage! He would often go with friends to see the likes of Stan Kenton and his band at the Pla-Mor Ballroom, as well as Ella Fitzgerald, in downtown KCMO! He also caddied for golfers at Indian Hills Country Club, fanning his passion for a lifelong love of golf! Following high school, he joined the U.S. Naval Reserves, received an Associate Degree in pre-engineering from KC Junior College, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1957. Receiving his commission as an Ensign in the Navy, Jack graduated from flight training in Pensacola, FL.  After earning his wings as a Naval Aviator in 1959, Jack flew the P-2V Neptune and the T-28 Trojan aircraft.  He completed 7 years in the Navy and achieved the rank of Lieutenant, operating from Puerto Rico and Keflavik, Iceland.  Jack would talk often about cloud formations and said his favorite part of flying was maneuvering between them!

Jack met his lovely future bride, Judy Marie Hafford, in church youth group. He was 18 and she was just 15! As he always told the story, it was love at first sight for him, but it took 6 years to convince her they were meant to be together! They were married on March 12, 1960, and honeymooned in Puerto Rico, where they were stationed for 2 wonderful years! Many lifelong friendships were made, and many memorable times had, including Nat King Cole singing at the Caribe Hilton, and dancing to Stan Kenton at the Officer’s Club! Later, while stationed in Norfolk, VA, Jill Colleen was born, and with a post Navy move to Washington, D.C., came Jennifer.

Returning to KCMO, they would raise their children, and he began his lifelong career as a TWA pilot.  He flew every jet aircraft in the fleet and concluded his career flying B-747’s for KLM Airlines out of Amsterdam. In all, his flying career spanned 35 years, and 10 types of aircraft in the US, Europe, Middle East, and Far East. He also spent 8 years in the TWA Flight Training Simulator Department and managed several pilot training programs including the B-727 and B-767 aircraft.

An always present dad when home, he was known to embroider denim shirts by the fire with his three girls, provide for a plethora of fun activities including camping, boating, and horses! There was an ever-growing row of cowboy boots lined up in the garage! Later, he hardly ever missed a game, dance performance, or sorority Dad’s weekend! With TWA, he took his family on many memorable vacations. One highlight was him piloting the plane during one of those trips! He jumped on the ‘70’s running craze, and enjoyed fly fishing with his best friend, Bob Large, but most everything he did was for his family. Jack and Judy grew spiritually together, reading/ studying every night, and were their girls’ youth group sponsors (the same youth group in which they themselves met), a commitment they made for 6 years! They were beloved second parents there, and each Sunday afternoon was spent doing fun outings with the youth or having our beloved minister over for lunch!

After retirement, Jack and Judy, known now as Lakshmi to most close friends, enjoyed homes and new friends in Bella Vista, AR and North Port, FL. They re-established their roots in Kansas City in 2018, moving to their John Knox Village Independent Living apartment. Their life together has been blessed with undying love for each other, and with the God of their being which has guided and supported them throughout their lives.

Jack was the steady, strong but quiet, present, loving, lovely, giving man in our lives, from beginning to end, quietly doing the backstage work for his three girls. He had many stories to tell, but his most told memories were ones he helped create at home.

In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry Martin, sister-in-law Mary Waltersdorf, his aunts and uncles, and multiple cousins. Surviving, in addition to his beloved wife, Judy (Lakshmi) Wiseley, are his adoring daughters, Jennifer Wiseley- Jungemann and husband Joel, of Sequim, WA, and Jill Chisam and husband Mike, of Hutchinson, KS; his treasured grown grandchildren, Clay Chisam of KCKS, and Ben Chisam of Overland Park, KS; his loving nieces, Wendy Martin Atkinson, Kelly Martin Kocian, and Janice Marie; his big-hearted nephews, Michael Cannady, Tim Cannady, and Kevin Tennant, and multiple distant loved cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made to either:  KC Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, KCMO, 64145 or John Knox Village EMT Building Fund, 1704 NW O’Brien Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO 64081

Jack wished to know his dad more than anything, so this will be a grand reunion!