John Dana Bell, Jr. (1941-2020)
John Dana Bell, Jr. was born Aug. 19, 1941 in Frederick, Okla., the son of John D. and Marcella E. Pauly Bell. He died Monday, April 6, 2020, at the Mt. Joseph Senior Village in Concordia, Kan. at the age of 78.
At a very young age, his parents moved John and his sister Mary to Beloit, where his parents established Bell Memorials monument company.
As a teenager, his father felt he was too young to work in the shop. So, he took a position with the Beloit Gazette doing typesetting. It was a job he very much enjoyed. After graduation from St. John’s High School in 1958, he joined the family business. During that time, he was also an active member of the Monument Builders of North America and enjoyed the trips with family to annual conventions.
After the passing of his dad, John Sr., John and Jim ran the business until 1990 when Jim took over ownership as John developed Bell’s CAD Advantage. He then traveled extensively across the United States and Canada selling Gerber Scientific computer aided design software to the monument industry. He was a perfectionist and an amazing artist.
He took great pride in the designs and etchings he produced in glass as well as monuments.
On Jan. 8, 1966, he was united in marriage with Dolores A. Lorson in Elmo, Kan. Six children were born to this union, and they were privileged to spend more than 52 years of marriage together.
John and Dolores purchased a farm southwest of Beloit in 1974. Here they spent time raising their children, tending a garden, and raising livestock and pets. Special pets were the dachshunds they raised.
In 1990, John and Dolores moved to town. Here he meticulously cared for their lawn and enjoyed landscaping and plantings. During his travels, he acquired an extensive brass collection that was primarily brass originating from India. Following retirement, he took up woodworking and created various projects. He also “helped” his grandkids with woodworking projects.He enjoyed bird watching and could play a merciless hand of pitch.
He loved his grandchildren. When he was with them individually, they were “his favorite”.
John and a group of community members were instrumental in establishing the MCO Rescue Squad in which he was a member. He was also a firefighter for MCO District 3. He took pride in his community and was on numerous boards.
He was proud to be a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. He was recognized as being one of the youngest members to have held the position of Grand Knight in Council 921. His brother later held this title.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife Dolores in May of 2018; his daughter Patricia Jones in 2017; and his brother, James (Jim) in 2019, and brother-in-law Leo Lorson in 2016.
John is survived by his children, Pamela (Kent) Jamis of Wichita, Christopher (Amy) Bell of Simpson, Deborah (James) Lange of Brookville, Deanna (Brian) Pruitt of Ellsworth, and Timothy Bell of Simpson; sister, Mary Heidrick, Colorado Springs, Colo.; brothers-in-law, William (Karen) Lorson Hope, Kan., Steve (Rosalie) Lorson, Salina, Kan.; sisters-in-law: Marilyn (Ken) Schmidt, Berryton, Kan., Joyce (George) Wagoner, Brookville, Kan., Phyllis Lorson, Garland, Texas, and Ruth Bell, Beloit; grandchildren, Kyle and Tyler Jamis, Wichita, Kan., Alissa (Joey) Hopkins, Jamestown, Kan., Adam Bell, Great Bend, Kan., Bryce and Erin Lange, Brookville, Kan., Jordann (William) McGinnis, Mission, Kan., Riann and Brenna Pruitt, Ellsworth, Kan., Collin (Jessie) Jones, Downs, Kan., Devon Jones, Wichita, Kan.; great-grandchildren, Tristen Jamis, Wichita, Kan., Jaden Hopkins, Hill City, Kan., Julia Hopkins, Jamestown, Kan., Shiloh and Harvey McGinnis, Mission, Kan.; and a host of special caregivers and staff from Mt. Joseph in Concordia that knew him as “Grandpa”, and many friends.
Funeral services were Monday, April 13, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Beloit.
Memorials may be given to Mt. Joseph Senior Village or St. John’s Cemetery. Roberts Family Funeral Service, Beloit, is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at www.robertsfamilyfs.com or mailed to 910 N. Campbell, Beloit, Kan. 67420.