James H. Rexroad 'Jace' Jr., 69, of Hutchinson, died Thursday, January 17, 2019, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born in 1949, in Hutchinson, to James H. Sr. and Carol Rexroad.

He attended Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson Community College, and the University of Kansas, where he received his bachelor's degree. Jace began training as a Medical Technologist at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Hutchinson while still in high school. He continued a 20-year career in medical technology and management at hospitals in Lawrence, Topeka and the Kansas City metro area.

During the 1980′s, Jace founded Primus, Inc., which brought to market the first accurate and reliable automated Hemoglobin A1c test for diabetic therapy. At that time, noted endocrinologist, Lois Jovanovic-Peterson, of the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute, predicted that the Primus A1c test would 'add thousands of years of healthy life to this generation of juvenile diabetics.' The test became accepted as the standard by which other A1c tests were measured.

Jace was a talented creative writer, and his friends knew him as a storyteller extraordinaire. He was a skydiver and an ultralight pilot. He loved motorcycles and golf. He descended, backpacking, three times down the S.O.B. Trail (double black diamond), in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in Colorado, taking a near-fatal fall on the final descent. Jace loved life and lived it fully.

On August 10, 1973, he married Janet S. Svoboda in Lawrence, KS. She survives. Other survivors include: brother-in-law, Charles Willard of Sellersburg, IN; niece, Jessica Addams and husband Tim of Orlando, FL; and cousins, Todd Offermann of St. Paul, MN, and Lucy Zeinert of Pulaski, WI. He was preceded in death by: his parents; sister, Amy Willard; and an aunt and uncles.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, February 23, 2019, at the Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church at 1809 E. 30th Avenue, Hutchinson, KS 67502. Visitation will occur at the church during the hour prior to and the hour following the event. Friends may sign the book during business hours at Elliott Mortuary. Memorials may be made to KU Endowment in memory of James H 'Jace' Rexroad, Jr. K-State fans are welcome to elect donor's choice. ;-) All memorials may be made in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.