Shon Johannes, of rural Powhattan, died Saturday, October 4, 2025, at his farm home.
 Shon was born on October 1, 1950, in Sabetha, Kansas, to Luther and Freda Johannes, and welcomed by his older sister Carol, he attended Powhattan grade school and graduated from Powhattan High School as Class President in 1968. Shon was in Future Farmers of America and did all things to do with farming. He attended Highland Junior College and Washburn University, but returned to farming when his father had a heart attack.
 Through mutual Washburn friends, he met his future bride, Florence Anne Melvin, who had moved with her family, Col. and Mrs. B.F. Melvin is to go to Topeka to serve his last tour of duty with the National Guard. Florence moved to Florida after the tour but reconnected with Shon, who, in his short, get-to-the-point manner, asked her, “yellow gold or white gold”. She returned to Bradenton, Florida, to continue to study at the University of South Florida and plan their wedding for the next summer.
 Florence moved to Kansas in June, and they were married on August 4, 1974, after the harvest. Florence crocheted her veil and wedding dress, and her mother-in-law, Freda, made their wedding cake. They were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Fairview by Pastor Hemmen, who was also the pastor in Powhattan. The newlyweds settled into a house and then moved to a walnut property that his parents owned close to Hiawatha, digging a well and bringing in phone service.
 During this time, they had their first son, Jonah Albert, and 17 months later their first daughter, Sophia Britt. In 1977, Shon went to work at Jeffrey Energy Center and commuted to work. In 1978, the family moved to rural Fairview to a house owned by Dr. Rodgers in Kansas City. Shon continued commuting until their mail carrier, who was a cousin of Gene Swearingen, told Shon that Gene needed help on his farm north of Hiawatha.
 Shon and Florence, who missed their farming life, went to work for the Swearingen family and lived in the home that Nancy McCoy Swearingen had grown up in. Shon enjoyed farming for Gene, and the family was happy. Jonah and Sophie started school in Hiawatha during this time. Shon and Florence also added their second son, Jacob Andrew, in 1980. They were very happy farming with the Swearingens.
 At this time, Shon’s father and mother decided to move to the walnut property and asked Shon to return to farming the family farm. The family moved to the house Shon grew up in, south of Powhattan, where they’ve lived ever since. Their second daughter, Suzannah Bridgette, was born two years later in 1982.
 Shon was extremely smart, including mechanically, and could fix anything. He was always helping his farmer friends and others. His brothers-in-law were engineers and called about different mechanical questions they were having.
 Shon was a firefighter for the Powhattan Volunteer Fire Department and received a golden ax for over twenty years of service. He served on the Powhattan Cemetery Committee and was Secretary of the Powhattan High School Alumni Association. Closest to his heart in his community was his devotion to the Zion Lutheran Church, which just celebrated its 125th year of existence at its present location. Shon’s maternal grandfather was among the group that moved the Church from rural Mercier to its location in Powhattan. Shon was filled with faith and prayer and was very involved in the Church, volunteering his time to ensure the Church continued to welcome and serve its small congregation.
 As his children grew up and graduated from school in Hiawatha and all earned their college degrees, the eldest Jonah from K-State, Jacob and Suzie from KU, and Sophie from KU and a law degree from Notre Dame, Shon also continued to grow and went into organic farming. He and Florence celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the beach in California. Just this year, he started to grow non-GMO crops, all the while maintaining a large commercial orchard of fruit trees, blackberries, Ogalalla strawberries, and more fruit trees around their home.
 Shon loved his family and friends, delighted in his children and grandchildren, loved his church, his mornings at Powhattan COOP morning coffee group, and his partner for life, Florence.
 He is survived by his wife Florence, his four children, ten grandchildren, his sister Carol, and his brother-in-law John Melvin. He will be greatly missed. He was a true Renaissance man who could appreciate all kinds of music, art, literature, and life.
 From Shon’s desk in his own hand: Could one perceive the day ahead as sunny, bright, not overcast or dead, his days would be fulfilled and fun, not dragging on, and hard to get done. So every day, no matter dreary or clear, the sun is up, maybe clouds, but don’t fear -S.J. 2011
 Funeral Services are planned for 3 p.m., Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Powhattan, KS. Pastor Tim Brisbois will officiate. Interment will follow at the Powhattan Cemetery. Friends may call at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha, KS, after 10 a.m. Thursday. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
 Memorial contributions are welcome for the upkeep of the Zion Lutheran Church in Powhattan or the Powhattan Cemetery fund and may be sent in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St, Hiawatha, KS 66434. Online condolences may be sent to www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com.