John “Jack” William Stoddart

John W. “Jack” Stoddart was born January 8, 1945, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to John and Wilma Stoddart. He died at his home in Lawrence, Kansas on May 7, 2022, from complications attendant to Alzheimer’s disease. He was surrounded by his loving family.

As a young boy Jack lived in Eau Claire and Antigo Wisconsin. His family’s ties to the world of horse racing fostered a love for the outdoors. He told stories of riding his horse through the woods, picking berries and racing over streams. On weekends, he and his family competed in horse shows and county fairs.

The family moved to Colorado when Jack was nine and settled in Littleton. Jack graduated from Littleton High School in 1963.

Jack met Vicky Dunham as a sophomore in high school. He knew that she was his forever love. They married on August 14, 1965 and until death did they part – nearly 57 years. Jack and Vicky’s daughter, Kristin, was born December 18, 1969. Over time they lived in Sterling, Denver, Galeton, Eaton, and Greeley, remodeling each house along the way. After Jack’s retirement from Kodak, he and Vicky moved to rural Holton, Kansas to give the nearby grandchildren lots of space for outdoor adventures. They moved to Lawrence in 2013.

Jack was remarkable for his ability to build and maintain diverse and lifelong friendships. Many of these friends became extended members of his small family. Jack was a conversationalist known for his wealth of knowledge on many subjects and his gift of story-telling.

Jack was a naturalist and a master falconer. He discovered falconry at fifteen and came to befriend falconers throughout the world. Falconry was Jack’s lifelong passion and it was at the center of his closest friendships. He was among the founders of the North American Falconer’s Association as well as the Colorado Hawking Club. He was instrumental in writing and passing laws that the Colorado Division of Wildlife uses to govern birds of prey in captivity. In his early years he spent countless hours riding motorcycles and trucks all over the remote Pawnee Grasslands of Colorado studying birds of prey. He was an adventurer and wasn’t afraid of a challenge especially in the name of research. Jack was also an artist and craftsman. He created a set of Dutch hood molds used for shaping leather hoods custom for each bird of prey used in falconry. He mentored falconers in the most traditional practices and techniques to train and care for birds of prey

Jack valued devotion to family above all else and always showed up for those he loved. He is survived by his wife, Vicky, daughter, Kristin Campbell (Terry), grandchildren Karen, Jackie and Lucas Campbell, a sister, Jean Miller (Frank) and nephews David, Mike, and Steve Miller.

Jack had an endearing commitment to others and was loyal and strong to his core. He lived by the treatise “The way to be is to do.” Jack’s admonition to the young people in his family was steadfast and regular: “make a difference.”
He did.

The family welcomes you to services Tuesday, May 31st at 2:00 pm at Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont, Lawrence, Kansas. A celebration of life will also be held in Colorado at the end of July. Details for the Colorado service will be posted soon. In honor of Jack we invite you to write your favorite stories for Jack’s grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Jack’s honor and may be made through Warren McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.