John Heywood Clabaugh
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John Clabaugh, 77, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, passed away February 19, 2022. Visitation will be held 1:00-2:00 PM, Saturday, February 26, 2022 at First Baptist Church, 2 NE Douglas, Lee’s Summit, Missouri. A Celebration of Life will follow 2:00 PM at the church. Masks are recommended. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the charity of choice.
John was born, August 1, 1944 to Vernon and Helen Clabaugh. He graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School, then served three years in the US Navy. Following his time in the Navy, he began working at Bendix (now Honeywell) where he met his wife, Sandy. While working, he attended night school, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Rockhurst College and Masters of Business Administration from Avila College.
He worked for Honeywell for 35 years in Human Resources, making may friends along the way. In 2006, he started a second career at Saint Luke’s East Hospital, as one of the administrators opening the new hospital. He loved every single day of his 11 years working there, enjoying all the wonderful friends he made continuing as a volunteer after retiring. John was also a member of Lee’s Summit Symphony Board. He loved cars, especially his 1983 280ZX and always kept them spotless.
John is survived by; wife of 55 years, Sandy Clabaugh; son, Steve Clabaugh; grandson, Evan Clabaugh; daughter, Susan Clabaugh and brother, Carey Clabaugh. He is preceded in death by; parents and granddaughter, Addison.
I’m so grateful to have met John while serving on the Lee’s Summit Symphony board of directors. His droll sense of humor and intelligence made our meetings more fun. His many friends will miss him. My sympathy goes to Sandy and the family.
So sorry Sandy. I will not be able to attend as I will be in Houston for my son’s Celebration of Life. You are in my prayers.
Martha Wood
I was privileged to know John through his time at Saint Luke’s East. I join others in offering comfort to his loved ones and friends.
Don Sipes
Prayers to Sandy, Carey and the family. I had the pleasure to work with and get to know both John and Carey at Bendix/Honeywell over almost 30 years. I will be travelling and can’t make it to the services, but my thoughts and prayers will be with the family.
John was my first Supervisor at Bendix after coming out of the “red badge area” in 1972. Many years later I would come to be Vern Clabaugh’s Secretary (his Dad) in Program Management. My condolences to Sandy, Carey and the entire Clabaugh family.
Gary and I offer our condolences to you, Sandy, and the kids………….lots of memories! Cherish them!
My condolences and prayers to the Clabaugh family. John hired me at Honeywell in Human Resources in 1996. I learned so much from him. My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and many co-workers with who he shared his knowledge and HR expertise.
My condolences to Sandy, Steve and Susan. My the lord wrap you in his loving arms and comfort you in this time of sadness. John was a wonderful man and will be missed by all.
It was my pleasure to have worked, learned and laughed with John. He was the nicest man. I am so sorry to have learned of his passing. He made great contributions to the SLHS and he will never be forgotten.
Blessings to his family.
John was a very special gentleman. He had a keen sense of “doing the right thing”. It was a great pleasure and honor serving with him on the Board of Directors of the Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra. He was always considerate of others and gave good counsel when asked. His contribution to the Symphony was invaluable. He was key in helping me find a new family physician. He was kind, considerate and always a true gentleman. He will be missed. Prayers for his entire family.
My condolences to Sandy and the family. I first met John when I began working at Bendix/Honeywell in 1984. I played on a recreational soccer team with him and Sandy in those days. My wife became acquainted with him when he worked at St Luke’s East. He was always so nice, a pleasure to visit with.
Sandy and family,
I send my sincere condolences to your family. John was a remarkable person to work with. I met John in October 2005, when we were preparing to open Saint Luke’s East Hospital. I worked in Human Resources with him from 2005 through 2008. He was very knowledgeable and a great manager. He was so very appreciative of the team that we built during those years. Every evening when we left work, he would thank me for the work we accomplished that day and ask me to return the next day. When I moved out of town in 2008 he wrote me a note that said: As Tony the Tiger said “You’re Great.” I will never forget that kind note, his friendship and I am so appreciative for the time I worked with him.
John was the best brother to me. He always had the answers to questions I asked. He was a great husband to his wife Sandra and a proud parent to his two children Steven and Susan. Plus a grandad to Evan. John was a strong individual that touched the lives of many and brought others together over the years. There are numerous treasured memories for all. The family will go on without him, we are strong. His physical presence may be gone but his soul will be watching over us.
God Bless
Family
Sandy and Family, It is with sincere sympathy and heartfelt loss to learn that John has passed. But it is the memories that quickly remind me of the genuineness of the man who modeled intelligence, integrity, humor and humility and who I admired as I started my career at Honeywell 37 years ago. These very qualities are the foundation of what I learned from John as he mentored many of us to be thoughtful, compassionate human resources professionals. He gave me his confidence, sending me to work in Albuquerque and then welcomed me back when the job there was done. I had no idea what a gift he had given me. John, I will so miss your humor, warmth and encouragement. Thank you Clabaugh Family for sharing John with us. We are most certainly better because of him.
Dear Sandy and Family, So sorry for your loss. He was loved by many and will be missed. So many memories of our time working together. I do remember when John got his 280ZX and how proud he was of it.
Sandy,
Larry and I are so sorry to hear of John’s passing. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.
So sad to hear of John’s passing. Working with him for signage and directional improvements at SL East made my job easy. Always enjoyed his advice and sense of humor. I’ll always remember his big hello from the front desk when he worked later as a volunteer. I’ll always remember him as one of my Saint Luke’s favorites.
Sandy, I’m so sorry to hear of John’s passing. My prayers are with you and your family.
I am saddened to hear about Johns’ passing. I worked with him at Saint Luke’s. He was always such a gentleman. I am so sorry for your loss.
I will miss his smile and wit at church. He was a great man who will be sorely missed. My prayers are with you all and know he is in a better place with no pain.
Sorry to hear of John’s passing. Many great memories of working with John at the Bendix/Allied-Signal/Honeywell plant. He was truly one of the good guys.
What a shock to read of John’s passing. Many memories came rushing back to me: clinging to an inner tube with John while being pulled by Pam and Chuck Harding’s boat at Lake of the Ozarks, clinging to my job as I worked through reductions in force with and for John at Bendix/Allied Signal, and now I cling to those and many more memories created by my long association with him. Charlotte and I offer our condolences to Sandy and the family.
I remember all the events Ed and I did with the Bendix family. Know Ed was there to welcome John to heaven. Nadine McGurren
Larry and I are shocked and saddened to hear of John’s passing. Sandy and I are good friends from the LSHS class of ‘63. We very much enjoyed attending the Lee’s Summit Symphony and sitting with John and Sandy.
Sandy, May good memories lift you up at this very difficult time. I’m sending love and hugs your way.
We are out of town and unable to attend services. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
My condolences on the passing of John. I came to know him when I transferred from a Bendix division in Florida. He had a great sense of humor. I will remember him stating in a promotion meeting: I cannot not know what I already know! He was asked to overlook negative information. I miss seeing him.
So sorry to hear about John’s passing. I have good memories from working with John and so many more memories of great times going to the lake with you, Sandy, Bob and Charlotte Ward. Then a few years later when we got together with our kids. Those were the good old days. How time flies. I hope we can get together when you’re ready. May John rest in peace. Love you….Chuck and Pam
John was a wonderful person. He acted as my mentor at a stage in my life and I appreciated all his guidance.
So deeply honored to have had the opportunity to have John as a mentor and friend when I started my first leadership role with the opening of Saint Luke’s East. He was an insightful, kind and compassionate leader who helped the novice believe that they too could be great! So deeply saddened for the loss of this genuine kind man. Prayers for all of his loved ones.
John was a wonderful part of the Saint Luke’s team. He was always positive and went out of his way to round on the units and talk to all of the staff. I always appreciated talking with him and his positive outlook. Prayers for his loved ones during this difficult time.
Sandy
So very sorry to learn of John`s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
It was a privilege and a blessing to be associated with John while serving on the Saint Luke’s diversity and inclusion council. He brought insight to the council and always respectively challenged council members to look at things from different perspectives. He will be missed. Condolences to his family.
Sandy & family
Our most heartfelt sympathy for your loss. John was a kind, gentle man who was so well-respected by his friends and community.. We always enjoyed seeing you at the symphony when my children’s choir performed. We also hold sweet memories of annual holiday parties. You had a beautiful life together, and no words adequately express our condolescences.
I am heartbroken at the thought of John not being around for our annual “girls” weekend each December. I first met John and Sandy when I went to work at Bendix in 1970; we became instant friends and I am forever grateful to have him and Sandy in my life.
My family and I have so many wonderful memories with John and Sandy; lots of laughs, tears and good times. John helped me so many times, I can’t begin to count the ways! We will miss him so much; I consider it a privilege to have known him!
My condolences to Sandy and the Clabaugh family.
I worked closely with John during my 12 years at AlliedSignal/Honeywell. His trust and confidence in me had a lasting influence on my professional development and my career. But I will remember him most of all for his caring heart, quick wit, passion for a clean sports car, and love for his family. Godspeed “Clabaugh.” Heaven’s fleet just got a whole lot sparklier.
Dear Sandy, Susan, Stephen, Carey,
I can’t tell you how sad this makes me. I always enjoyed being around Jack, ever since I was a wee kid and looked up to him as the cool older guy. I have such great memories of all those holidays together, even as Steve and Susan were growing up. In fact, I miss them. My love goes out to you all and I hope to be able to see you soon. Sadly I’ll miss the service as I’ll be on a plane to gigs in Indiana. Please let me know if you post a video.
xoxo, Greg
Dear Sandy, I’m so sorry I missed John’s services. You two were important to George and I. It always seems like there’s plenty of time left to get together and catch up and then suddenly, it’s over and you’ve missed out on years, and years of friendship. Love.
John and I were coworkers as I was the HR Director at Saint Luke’s North much of the time John was at East. It was my pleasure to know and work with John and to his family and friends, May His Memory Always Be A Blessing To All Who Knew Him.