John Van Colt

John V. Colt, age 78, passed away Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007 at the KC Hospice House, after five years battling cancer. He was born Sept. 21, 1928 at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas. He graduated North Kansas City High School and attended Ottawa University and Kansas State University.

He started his newspaper career in Great Bend, Kansas and later worked as a reporter for The Independence Examiner, The Kansas City Star and The St. Louis Globe Democrat. In 1977 he and his wife, Janet, published the Raytown Post newspaper, which they operated for ten years. He then worked in media relations; as a lobbyist in Jefferson City and in the anti-drug program for Jackson County from 1982 to 1994. He received numerous awards during his newspaper career.

He was preceded in death by his father, John W. Colt, former executive editor of The Kansas City Star, his mother, Arlene Van Osdell Colt; a brother, James B. Colt; a son, David Colt; and a grandson, Shawn Pace.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Janet, and sister-in-law, Donna Nigro of the home, two brothers, Robert Colt of Lawson, MO; Zack Colt of Shell Knob, MO; two sisters, Carole Tatum of Padre Island, TX; Linda Graham of Ruston, LA; two sons, John Colt, Jr. of Leavenworth, KS; Timothy Colt of Olathe, KS; three daughters, Diane Seber of Leavenworth, KS; Lori Jewell of Tonganoxie, KS; Hally Colt of Kansas City, KS; three step-children, Stephen Covell, Janet Pace, and Karen Stolfus. Additional survivors include 20 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held, Wednesday, January 31st, at Heartland Cremation and Burial Society, 6113 Blue Ridge Blvd. in Raytown. Visitation 1:30 p.m; services 2:30 p.m. Cremation; Family suggests contributions to Kansas City Hospice.