Jack Leon Josephson, 85, wonderful husband, father and proud grandfather, died Sept. 25, 2009, at his home, Hutchinson. He was born Jan. 8, 1924, in Ulysses, to Harold Barton and Edith "Jody" Coons Josephson. He graduated in 1942 from Sylvia High School, Sylvia. He worked for 40 years at Southwestern Bell, retiring as a PBX repairman.

He belonged to the First United Methodist Church, Tri-M Sunday School Class, Telephone Pioneers, volunteered at the library repairing and programming talking books, was a Boy Scout leader, an avid sportsman and outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and enjoyed sports of all kinds and especially enjoyed attending the HCC basketball games. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army serving with the Signal Corp in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.

On January 15, 1946 he married Norma Jean "Jeanne" Tice in Columbus, Indiana. She died in April 1959. On Aug. 15, 1963, he married M. Yvonne Mammel in Hutchinson. She survives. Other survivors include: sons, Jerry and wife, Vicki, Hutchinson, and Jeff and wife, Doris, Olathe; daughters, Sandy Zwick and husband, Gary, Sterling, and Nancy McConnell, Hutchinson; sisters, Donna Moran, Hemet, Calif., and Marjorie "Jeep" Withroder, Gainesville, Texas; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Dean.

Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, in Sylvia Cemetery, Sylvia, with Pastor Mark Conard presiding. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church or the Telephone Pioneers, both in care of the mortuary. Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.