John Charles Van Schoelandt

John Charles Van Schoelandt, 78, Lawrence, Kansas, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of September 24, 2025, at Baldwin Health and Rehabilitation Center in Baldwin City, Kansas.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, September 29 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Lawrence, Kansas. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Olathe, Kansas.

John was born December 17, 1946, to Felix Charles “Charley” and Rose Madeline (De Smet) Van Schoelandt in Kansas City, Kansas. He grew up in Spring Hill, Kansas where his parents operated the family’s farm for many years. He graduated from Spring Hill High School in 1964, earning multiple honors throughout his education. He especially enjoyed seeing old friends at the 60th Spring Hill High School reunion in June 2024.

John attended the University of Kansas before being drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1967. He served active duty during the Vietnam War, earning multiple medals for his service before being honorably discharged.

After returning home, he eventually began what would become a rewarding decades-long career in IT services and computer programming at Black and Veatch Engineering in Kansas City. He enjoyed work trips with colleagues and always brought souvenirs back for his children. John retired in 2007 from EDS following its merger with Black and Veatch in 2005.

John married Mary Elizabeth Preston on June 2, 1984, in Olathe, Kansas and the couple soon welcomed a son, Charles in 1985, and a daughter, Anna in 1988, in addition to being a caring stepfather to Mary’s daughter, Maria. John and Mary raised their young family in Olathe and were active members in the St. Paul’s Church community for many years.

John and Mary eventually moved to Fontana, Kansas in 2009 where they would live and enjoy rural life together for the next 15 years. John faithfully tended a sprawling mini-farm growing amazing tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, green beans, cantaloupe, corn, and zucchini by the bushel. It was his greatest passion and talent and he especially enjoyed sharing his bounty with others including the Osawatomie, Kansas food pantry and churches in the Miami County community.

John is lovingly remembered as master of the dad joke, a crossword puzzle enthusiast who wrote in pen and never peeked at the answers as well as the family Scrabble champion. He sported a vicious top spin Ping Pong serve and took all family games as serious competitive sport. He appreciated all kinds of music and took apart song lyrics like poetry, pondering their meaning with his children.

Throughout his life, John lived by setting a humble example of quiet strength, unfailing generosity and rock-solid dependability and perseverance. His legacy will live on through his children and all those who learned from him.

John is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived and missed by his devoted wife Mary, step-daughter Maria Preston-Cargill (Schaen), son Charles Van Schoelandt (Candice), daughter Anna Douglas-Rose (Michael), his much-adored grandchildren: Hawk and Fox, his sister Charlene (Chuck), nephews Tim Soetaert, Chris Soetaert (Aubrie) and nieces Elizabeth Hinrichs (Greg), Kathy McNew (Vernon), Joanne Vaughan (Morgan) and their children and families.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to remember John through memorial contributions to Lawrence Inter-denominational Food Kitchen (LINK) which he and Mary supported during their all-too-brief time together in Lawrence after relocating there in November 2024 to be closer to their children.

The family also wishes to extend its gratitude to the Baldwin Healthcare and Rehabilitation team and Prairie Wind Hospice staff for their attentive and kind care of John in his last week of life.

John reminisced recently about musician David Bowie’s song “Major Tom (Coming Home).” We miss you deeply, but we know you are home now among the stars.