Jack L. Stringer

‘Jack’ Jackie Lynn Stringer was born on December 2, 1941, and passed away peacefully, surrounded by his large, loving, and loud family, on March 15, 2025. The birth and death of this dedicated father and farmer are not nearly as relevant as the days he lived between those two dates.

Jack was born to Ralph and Jody (Mary Josephine Hoyt) Stringer on his Great Grandpa Stringer’s home place. In the spring of 1942, the family moved just down the road to the farm of Rufus Couch, Jack’s other Great Grandpa. Jack and his sisters grew up in the house that their Great Grandpa built in 1909. Jack still owns the land he loved so much and was proud to have had both farms designated as Century Farms. His childhood farm is currently home to the sixth generation of Couch/Stringer descendants.

Jack attended Beaver Country School through Jr. High and had fantastic stories to tell of the shenanigans that he, some cousins, and other neighbor boys could instigate. For high school, Jack attended Guthrie Center Community High School. He loved playing sports and excelled in all of them! It was there that he met a cute cheerleader named Beverly Railsback, who would become the love of his life. He graduated from high school in 1960 and then attended an auto mechanical school in Omaha.

After several years of dating through high school, on July 16, 1961, he married that cheerleader. In the spring of 1962, Jack, Bev, and baby John moved to the farm west of Wichita, where Jack lived, raised his family, and farmed for 63 years. They had two mischievous boys: John (1962) and Jimmy (1970), and one somewhat strong-willed, bossy daughter, Brenda (1964). During the 1980–81 school year, they welcomed an exchange daughter from Greece, Elizabeth Xanthopoulou. A lifetime of love and adventure spanned over 56 years until Bev’s death in 2017.

Jack was a very progressive farmer. In 1969, he was selected as a soil conservation winner in the “Guthrie District Owner-Tenant Division” of the Des Moines Register Contest, recognizing farmers practicing outstanding soil conservation. He served many years on the Soil Conservation board. In the early '70s, he was recognized as an outstanding Beef Producer.

The Guthrie County Fair was a huge part of the Stringer family life and tradition. Jack started as the Sheep Superintendent, then Swine Superintendent, and later served many years as a Fair Board Member. Years and years of wonderful memories were made camping at the fair, riding motorcycles, and showing off Bev’s ’55.

Arm wrestling was a 45-year family tradition. Jack started by taking John in 1979 to the first of many years of competitions in Monster Arm Wrestling. It was just a matter of time before it became a family event, as Jimmy joined in at age 18, followed by many of the grandkids, and even a great-granddaughter in 2023.

Jack has always felt a need for speed, whether in his Chevy cars or Mud Bog Trucks. In 1999, he started mud bog racing at Guthrie with a stock truck named “Grandpa’s Toy,” eventually graduating to a 1,000-horsepower truck in the Outlaw Class. At the age of 82, after 24 years of racing, he won his final race in 2023.

Farmers never retire, so when Jack finally slowed down his farming operation, he simply pivoted to another passion that he had put on hold—playing in the dirt. Doing dozer work, running the excavator, or buying calves at the sale barn and raising them at the farm was definitely his happy place.

Jack loved sports and livestock. He especially loved football and basketball, and watching grandkids play sports or show livestock at the fair was something he truly enjoyed. In recent years, his companion, Judee Eischeid, and her family joined him in life’s many adventures.

Immediate family waiting in Heaven to welcome him are his wife Bev, his parents, grandson Jacob Stringer, and son-in-law David Christensen.

Jack left deep roots in the family who remain. His infectious laugh and giving heart will be missed by his loved ones: his children, John Stringer; Jimmy (Laurie) Stringer; Brenda (Michael) Esdohr; and exchange daughter Elizabeth Xanthopoulou.

He leaves 10 grandkids: Lainey (Drew) Stringer (John's daughter); Brea (Derek) Chaplin; Ashley (Wes) DeMaris; Cory (Heather) Esdohr; Elizabeth Esdohr; Ali Stringer (Brenda’s kids); Laurisa Stringer (Austin Fabian); LeAnna (Mason) Rasmussen; Jessica Stringer (Brandon Thomas); and Jenna (Dustin) Deist (Jimmy’s kids).

27 great-grandkids: John: Lilah (Jacob and Katie); Cooper, Emery, Griffin, Nora, and Juniper (Lainey and Drew); Brenda: Noah, Asher, Kaleb, Leah, Elijah, Rebekah, Benjiam, Jude, Sam, and new baby #10 due in August (Brea and Derek); Olivia & Stella (Ashley & Wes); Sal, Niki & Lexi (Ali); Hally, Zach & Luke (Cory & Heather); Jimmy: Waylon and Landry (Laurisa & Austin); and Opal (LeAnna & Mason).

He is also survived by his three sisters, Mary Jo (Jim) Laughery, Barb Hambleton, and Martha (Rick) Buttler, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and so many good friends!

Visitation with family and friends will take place on Monday, March 17, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Event Center, located at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center, followed by interment at Monteith Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.