Jack McCartney, 66, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly, Saturday (April 22, 2017) at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville.

Born November 7, 1950 in Humansville, Missouri, Jack was the son of the late Lindell Dola and Kathleen Marie (McDermott) McCartney. On July 18, 1981 in Rock Port, Missouri, Jack was united in marriage to Lesa Wessler.

Jack is survived by his wife Lesa; two daughters and a son-in-law, Kinsey McCartney of Menlo Park, CA and Courtney and Mark Gerster of Colorado Springs, CO; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Tom and Paula McCartney of Pittsburg, PA, Mike McCartney of Huntsville, MO, Chuck and Sandy McCartney of Queen City, MO, and Pat and Diana McCartney of Ashland, MO; great aunt Jeanne Craft of St. Louis, MO; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and one grandson, Emmett Gerster of Colorado Springs, CO.

After growing up in Schuyler County, Jack attended the University of Missouri where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor and Master degrees in Agriculture Education. Following two years of teaching at Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, MO, Jack transitioned to working in Ag business, most recently as a seed advisor and Sales Area Manager with Syngenta and a stewardship and compliance coordinator for STEP. In February, Jack was recognized by Syngenta with an award at the national meeting for 38 years a faithful service. Jack loved his work and the farmers he served.

He was a member of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus (fourth degree), first and former president of the Missouri Corn Growers Association, a lifetime member of the Mizzou Alumni Association and was inducted into the university’s inaugural class of the CAFNR Alumni Leadership Society in 2007.

Jack was very involved in the lives of his two daughters and was fully embracing the new role of grandfather to "his favorite grandson."

He enjoyed vacationing with his family and friends and attending Mizzou sporting events. He loved the outdoors, spending time on the family farm, enjoying hunting and playing host to hunters from around the country. Since 1985, Jack has proudly been supplying northeast Missouri with McCartney Sweet Corn. He had the joy of seeing the first signs of this year's crop on his last day on the earth.

He will be deeply missed by family, friends and an entire community of people that he loved.

Public visitation will be held Wednesday (April 26, 2017) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday (April 27, 2017) at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Kirksville with Monsignor David Cox presiding. Interment will follow the service at Jimtown Cemetery, northwest of Queen City, Missouri. Following the services, family and friends are invited to lunch in honor of Jack’s life at the Kirksville Country Club.

Pallbearers will be Tom Kent, Mick Kent, Mike Morehead, Eddie Schmitz, Pat Comp, Rick Riley, Kyle Antoine, and Randy Baker.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mary Immaculate Catholic School or to the University of Missouri's Ag 100 Endowment Fund which supports students through scholarships and educational programs within the university's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.