John Dillard Martin, age 86, of Lee’s Summit, MO, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 5, 2021, at St. Luke’s East Hospital. John was born in November 1935, in Fairfield, MO, the son of Oral Dillard Martin and Zola Dyer Martin.

John grew up on the family farm near Little Pomme de Terre River in the Fairfield, MO area. He attended Pleasant Hill grade school and graduated from Warsaw High School where he lettered in basketball.  After graduation, John moved to Kansas City, MO, to work construction to earn enough money to pay for college. He attended University of Missouri for a short time, then decided to move back to the family farm to help run it. It turned out that John and his father had different visions for the farm, so John moved to Grandview, MO, to work for Missouri Public Service. In 1958, he was drafted into the Army for 2 years, stationed in Baumholder, West Germany. During his tour of service, he visited many European countries which he loved telling his family about. After serving our country, John moved back to the Kansas City area and continued working for Missouri Public Service.

Through a mutual friend, John met his wife, Rose, in January 1961. They were married in September 1961. They made their home during their 60 years together in Grandview, Belton, Bowling Green, Kansas City, and Lee’s Summit, MO. They spent their time together enjoying country music, gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

A year after meeting Rose, John followed his dreams and became a Dairy Queen Owner/Operator. He owned/operated 7 Dairy Queen Restaurants across MO (Bowling Green, Kansas City (2), Raytown, Lee’s Summit, Sedalia, and Clinton). John was a “hands-on” operator and could always be found working the grill during the busy hours. One of his favorite sayings at work was, “If there’s time to lean, there’s time to clean.” Over his 50+ year career with Dairy Queen, he and Rose won numerous sales and community service awards.

Although John had a successful career, his greatest joy was his family. He was a loving father that cherished the time they could be together. He loved working at the DQ with his kids and would also take them fishing or hunting as much as possible. You would find him at his kids and grandkids events like football, soccer, baseball, and dance recitals. He was the perfect grandfather and LOVED to spoil the grandkids. They all have favorite stories about the breakfasts he would make, whether it was “special” frosted flakes, “Dada’s Coffee” or Dada’s and Grandma’s famous waffles and bacon. If the Grandkids were staying with him, everyday became “Take your Grandkid to Work” day where they would get to go with him to the Dairy Queen and make their own burgers and dessert items.  When he wasn’t with the whole family, John and Rose loved getting together for meals and games with their friends and extended family.

Surviving is his wife, Rose Martin; two sons, Kirk Martin and wife, Tammy; Kent Martin, and wife, Liesa; one daughter, Debra Rusaw and husband, Steve; 6 grandchildren, Brett Martin, Brandon Martin, Kory Martin, Adam Rusaw, Kate Martin, and Chelsea Rusaw; 4 great grandchildren, Tyler Soendeker, Lily Soendeker, Alex Sim and Brady Martin; one sister, Carolyn Franks and husband, Joe.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Jenna Lee Ficken and Ruth Ellen Compton; and many cousins and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 15, 2022, in Sedalia, MO, at First United Methodist Church, Celebration Center. If you would like more information, please leave a message below including your name, email and/or phone number or contact Kirk at Kirk-Martin6@gmail.com and someone will contact you once the time is finalized.  Memorial contributions may be made to MercyRestStop.org, OpenDoorServiceCenter.org, The American Cancer Society, or The American Heart Association.

Obituary submitted by family.

Arrangements:  Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove, MO   816-690-4441