Janet Stanzel Sayler

Jan Sayler, 86, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2021 surrounded by her family.  Jan’s life will be celebrated on Friday, September 17 at 4pm at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri.  The service will be live-streamed at www.standrewkc.org.

Jan was born on December 4, 1934 to Fred and Agnes Stanzel in Sac City, Iowa. She lived  on the family farm, where her father raised livestock.  Her family later moved to the town of Sac City, a wonderful community in northwest Iowa.  Jan attended the University of Iowa, where she was President of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.  Prior to her graduation in 1956, she worked as a summer camp counselor in Wisconsin, where she met her future husband Bill Sayler.

Jan and Bill were married in November 1957.  They loved and cared for each other for 64 years.  Jan and Bill had four children—Kelly, Scott, Jodi, and Julie. Bill spent his entire career working for Business Men’s Assurance, and Jan spent her “career” raising four adventuresome children.  Although she never made any money at it, Jan was something of an entrepreneur, co-owning the Needle Nook (needlepoint) and Connoisseur (antiques) and holding numerous garage sales. Jan was a fantastic mother.  She loved and supported her kids at every turn and stayed busy with hobbies and charitable activities, but her primary focus was her husband and her children.

As the years went by, Jan and Bill were blessed with fifteen grandchildren (and, now, four great grandchildren).  Jan had a special relationship with every one of her grandchildren. Whether it was the annual Christmas cookie day in grandma’s kitchen, Jan’s annual spooky Halloween party, or the Christmas Eve gift exchange, holidays with the grandchildren at grandma’s house were always memorable.   Jan and Bill spent their winters at John’s Island in Florida, and all of Jan’s children and grandchildren have special memories of great times together in Florida.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, her three siblings, and her youngest daughter Julie Sayler Green (husband Bob).  She is survived by her husband Bill, her children Kelly Krahl (Kevin), Scott Sayler (Nancy), and Jodi McGannon (Pat).  Jan is also survived by her fifteen grandchildren, who she would insist we list by name: Bryan Sayler, John Krahl, Megan Sayler Zahner, Alison Sayler, David Krahl, Patrick McGannon, Jack Sayler, Connor McGannon, Elizabeth Green, Maggie McGannon, Emily Green, Grace Green, Matthew McGannon, Robert Green, and Meredith McGannon.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri 64113 or a charity of your choice.