Submitted by
Louise Willison

Vance Adam Balzer

NEWKIRK — Vance Adam Balzer, longtime Newkirk resident, died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 in the Kansas Veteran's Home in Winfield, Kan.. He was 82.

The funeral for Mr. Balzer will be held Friday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m. in the First Christian Church of Newkirk with Danny W. Cornish, minister of the Newkirk Church of Christ, officiating. Military and Masonic graveside rites will be held in Newkirk Cemetery. Miller-Stahl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. The body will lie in state at the funeral home Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m. The casket will be open at the church prior to service time and not opened after.

Vance Adam Balzer was born Jan. 25, 1923, on the family farm south of Newkirk, the son of Robert Henry and Lourene Marguerite Taylor Balzer. He grew up and received his education in Newkirk. While in high school he was active in 4-H and FFA. He also wrestled, played football and baseball. He graduated from Newkirk High School with the class of 1940. He attended Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater for two years and was in wrestling and ROTC. On March 26, 1943, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was sent to Arkansas A&M College for a year and then attended boot camp in Paris Island during the months of July and August, after which he was assigned to Camp Lejeune. Later he was assigned duties in the Infantry at Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Maui, Hawaii; and Midway Island in the Pacific Theater. He was also assigned duties in Officers Candidate School.

Lt. Balzer was awarded the American Theater Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in July 1946 and went to the reserves.

On March 1, 1947, Vance and Twila Ann Kail were married in Winfield. They established their first home on a farm east of Newkirk. In June 1951 he was call back into active duty with the Marines as a captain and assigned duties in Korea. He was honorably discharged from active duty with the Marines in November 1954 and returned to his dairy farming. He stayed in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and was promoted to major in February 1956.

In 1960 the Balzers moved to a farm southeast of Arkansas City. They left the farm in the fall of 1975 and purchased the Windsor Place Apartments. They managed the apartments until 1979 when they returned to the Newkirk area and farming. In 1989 he moved into Newkirk. In June 2000 he moved to the Kansas Veteran's Home where he has since resided.

Vance was a member of the First Christian Church and had served as a board member. He was a member of the American Legion Otto G. Abbott Post 165 and VFW Clarence Pond Post 4979.

He was a 52-year member of the Newkirk Masonic Lodge 88 AF&AM. He served as a board member for the Newkirk Housing Authority. He was a member of the Kansas Kaw Landowners Association and the American Milk Producers Association. He maintained an active interest in agriculture and was a promoter of 4-H, FFA and the stock shows.

In earlier years he belonged to a polka club and continued to enjoy dancing until shortly before his death. An avid reader, Vance was selected Patron of the Year for the Newkirk Library. He relaxed by hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his children, Neva Balzer of Newkirk, Nona Gricshaber of Dallas, Texas, Nevin Balzer of Newkirk, Neal Balzer of Arkansas City, Kan., Nila and Virgil Brandon of Newkirk, Nance and Lee Chamberlain of Arkansas City, Kan., and Neta McWilliams of Newkirk; his grandchildren, Traci Matney, Jennifer, Amy and Mary Gricshaber, Adam, Robert, Brian and Karley Balzer, Charlie and Kaycee Brandon, Eric and William Mavis, Levi, Jamie, Chuck and Chase McWilliams; and great-grandchildren, Kiara and Kyla Knox, Jenna Walter, Hunter Anderson, Zachary Mavis; sisters- and brother-in-law, Mineva and S.A. Crank of Newkirk and Winona Reed of Tulsa; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law, Charles Reed; and two nephews, Lance Reed and Tim Crank.

Those serving as casket bearers will be grandsons, Levi McWilliams, Jamie McWilliams, Chuck McWilliams, Chase McWilliams, Eric Mavis, William Mavis and Charlie Brandon. Honorary bearers are granddaughters.

Memorial funds have been established with the Kansas Veteran's Home and Friends of the Newkirk Library. Contributions may be made in Mr. Balzer's name through Eastman National Bank, Box 468, Newkirk, Okla. 74647-0468.