John Matthew Wildman was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 8, 1953 to Richard Everett Wildman and Dorothy (Ashelby) Wildman. He departed to meet his Savior and Lord on December 17, 2021, after an unexpected cardiopulmonary event.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Dorothy, and his older brother Dickie. He is survived by his wife Lana, sons Joshua (Erin), Spencer, and Parker, and his brother David (Ernestine), and two grandchildren, Vivian and Henry.

An Eagle Scout and 1972 Oak Park High School graduate, John graduated from Park University in 1979, with dual degree in business administration and economics. The majority of his career was spent with St Luke’s Health Systems in Patient Accounts, ending up as Director of Patient Services.

John never took for granted the love and support of his parents during his growing up, which included 21 orthopedic surgeries, the consequence of three months’ prematurity and congenital hip dysplasia. Some of the best advice John remembers his father gave him was “John, your arms are too short to box with God,” and “Keep looking up!” His parents’ faith helped John to decide that he wanted to live his life for God, in spite of a lifetime on crutches and later in a wheelchair.

Love for Jesus Christ was a central driving force in John’s life. For the most of his life, he was a member of Gashland Presbyterian Church, with a brief membership at Northland Cathedral, where he met his beloved wife, Lana. John’s steadfast faith saw him through his many challenges. He was a regular member of a Wednesday morning over-the-phone Bible study, which he joined taking the place of his father at his passing in 1996.

John loved to greet people by name and encourage them however he could. His testimony of God’s love, his eternally optimistic cheerfulness, and his example of courage and perseverance in the face of adversity shone brightly for everyone he encountered.

Anyone who knew John very well will attest to the fact that he would talk aviation with anyone as long as possible. His love of planes and flying began with his father's work as an engineer with Trans World Airlines. At age 18, John began to study for his pilot’s license, joking that he’d buy an airplane before he bought a car. While he completed ground school, he was unable to attain his goal due to the impracticality of modifying a plane to accommodate his too-short left leg. In spite of not getting to be the pilot, John soaked up every possible experience around airplanes, including traveling to Europe, Africa and the Middle East with his dad on many overseas assignments. While in college, he worked at TWA reservations.

Since his retirement, John stayed busy volunteering at church and at the TWA Museum at the Kansas City downtown airport, where he served as a tour guide and Scouts Aviation Merit Badge instructor. He continually read and studied about aviation, both history and recent developments. His love for aviation and TWA was apparent to all who interacted with him at the museum.

Visitation will be on Thursday, December 30, 2021, from 5 – 7 pm. A Celebration of John’s Life will be Friday, December 31, 2021, at 11 am. Both will be at Gashland Presbyterian Church, 8029 N Oak Tfwy, Kansas City, MO 64118.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the TWA Museum at the Downtown Kansas City Airport or to the NorthCare Hospice House at North Kansas City Hospital.