Hastings - Joseph Charles "J.C." Chance, 85, passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2020 in Hastings, NE.
J.C. was born October 28, 1934 in Smith Center, KS, the son of Milo and Edna (Holmes) Chance. On October 19, 1962 he married Colleen M. Cowley in Downs, KS, to this union they were blessed with three children, Jay Milo, Julie Marie and James Philip.
In 1952 upon graduation, J.C. went into a partnership with his dad and continued that partnership until his dads death in 1962. After his dad died he formed the Smith Center Hog Company and that business continued until 1998. His love of farming and business was inherited from his dad whom he learned everything from and continued until his father’s death. In spite of the difficulties, the risk and narrow margin of profit and all the other problems associated with his vocation, J.C. liked it and enjoyed the association it brings with farmers, stockmen and his customers. As he learned the business from his father, following in the footsteps of his father, J.C. already was already a good judge of livestock and it was whispered that he occasionally took the “old man” to the mat when it came to guessing weights. Be that as it may, they made a fine father-son combination. J.C. and Colleen enjoyed going to their grandchildren's school events and baseball, basketball and football games. He didn't miss a game. His voice would boom with "Get The Ball, Don't Just Stand There". After retirement, he made a new group of friends at the OK Café and The Kensington. Until the very end, he was "Giving the Business" to all the employee's and friends at the "Grand Hotel". He will be missed by everyone he encountered. He made an impact on everyone young and old. As a good friend said, "J.C. may be gone but still here". Indeed, he is.
J.C. was a past member of the Congregational Church, Smith Center, past Smith Center Fire Chief and Smith County Deputy. J.C. received the Firefighter Of-The-Year award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Kansas for 1998-1999, he received the Smith Center Volunteer Fire Department Distinguished Service Award in recognition of 42 years of outstanding service on October 23, 1999, he received the Emergency Services Award from the Sixth District Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary Department of Kansas for 1998-1999 while serving as the Emergency Preparedness Director/Coordinator for Smith County, Kansas, he received an appreciation plaque for many years of service to Smith County as the Emergency Preparedness Director in 2003.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Colleen on August 14, 2011.
J.C. is survived by two sons, Jay M. Chance of North Platte, NE, James P. (Heidi) Chance of Smith Center; a daughter Julie M. (Dale) Ossowski of Hastings, NE; a sister Barbara Pomarico of Centennial, CO; seven grandchildren, Joseph (Melinda) Evans of Hastings, NE, Kyndell Colleen Princ of Oklahoma City, OK, Connor (Fiancé Kylie Marconnet) Ossowski of Pittsburg, KS, Harlee (Fiancé Ethan Woerner) Chance of Burr Oak, KS, Jackson Chance of Esbon, KS, Gracyn Ossowski of Hastings, NE, Tanner Henrichs of South Shore, SD and four great-grandchildren, Lyric, Lexie and Landyn Evans all of Hastings, NE and Lillian Lunday of Oklahoma City, OK.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 10, 2020 at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Lance McDowell officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral chapel. Burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS. Memorials may be given to The Kensington - Assisted Living Facility, 233 N. Hastings Ave., Hastings, NE 68901 and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.