Lee Salmans Funeral

Obituary

Lee Ross Salmans, 83, passed away July 14, 2019 at Hodgeman County Health Center, Jetmore, KS.

He was born January 7, 1936 in Larned, KS, the son of Otha Truman and Sylvia May Clifton Salmans. 

He graduated from Baylor University and was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant.  His duties while in the Air Force included test pilot and physicist. 

In 1963, he married Francie Stinnett and together they had 4 children, before her passing in 1982.  Lee was blessed to be happily married to Karen Rufenacht for over 34 years. 

After his retirement, Lee returned to Hanston where he served at Faith Fellowship Church and faithfully served his community.  Additionally, Lee worked with his brothers, Larry and Walt, on their family farm. 

Other survivors include: children, Nancy Salmans, Eielson Air Force Base, AK, Gary (Kim) Salmans, San Antonio, TX, Brian (Kristin) Salmans, Lawrence, KS, Jill (Bob) Miller, Waco, TX; two brothers, Larry (Marilyn) and Walt (Gwen) Salmans, both of Hanston, KS; two sisters, Sylvia Ann (BJ) Barron, Ft. Myers, FL,  Jana Jordan, Hays, KS, eight grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Elaine Keeten.

Lee’s greatest legacy that he passed on to his children and grandchildren was not material things, but rather a legacy of character and faith.  Lee was an extraordinary man who modeled exemplary integrity, and he will be greatly missed. 

Memories

One of the smartest men around… though you would not know it because he told you.

he was very humble and he loved his family

even his kids were realizing how smart he was when they had to attempt to answer questions that their kids would ask.

If you knew Lee, you knew that he loved to write on things…

Church van the first time

A semi and other trucks on the farm… well everything that Lee worked on, had the hand written notes.

The church was not exempt from that...

coffee pot… HOT?

We got a new church van about three years ago… when I gave him the keys

even as late as this spring he was begging me at the senior center to write on the outside of that van.

We really thought about writing on paper and putting around the sanctuary today… just notes like which way to walk, where certain people are to sit, and which way you should face.

I think that Lee’s life, was one big hand written note…

His love, his humility and the grace that he shared was one big note pointing people to Jesus.

The Best is Yet to Come...

On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, and 2 Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What does that have to do with you and me,,x woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants. 6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Illustration of lady being buried with her fork

On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, and 2 Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.”

Burry me with a fork in my hand… every time I have dinner and somebody tells me to keep my fork, I know the best is yet to come

So put a fork in my hand and tell people about life with Jesus when they ask.

Explain the passage

4 “What does that have to do with you and me,,x woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.”

a different kind of miracle

5 “Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants.

most of the miracles we see are to the poor, the hurting showing the kindness and grace of Jesus, pointing to him as messiah

6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

we do not see that in this miracle

9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

by all accounts, we see that this was a miracle at a wedding of people with money

11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

at weddings like this, they would take the good wine and give it to people first, then later they would give them the stuff that is not so good

but with a touch of Jesus… they experienced the best at the end.

Lee was a blessed man… He was able through he work with the air force to do some amazing things.

He flew against Russian migs, in training missions, he traveled the world!

He always wanted to come back home

back to Hanston where he grew up, to be with his community, to be with his family.

Lee had scene the world and he knew that there were things that were far greater than this world.

He knew that the best was yet to come…

that is what gives us hope on a day such as this… that there is something better to come.

That through Jesus, there is a life to come that is far greater than anything we can have here

You too, can experience the best

We are all born into a sinful and broken world, and there are none of that are perfect

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God

And it is that sin that has separated us from a perfect and holy God

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord

Why would God do that? Simple… His love. God loves you so much that he offered his son as the sacrifice needed to pay for our sins

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

God demonstrates that love that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

Whoever confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead shall be saved!