The Life of John Gregory Hayner
John Gregory “Greg” Hayner, 71, died on Friday, January 3, 2020, at Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, KS, after a long and courageous battle with lung disease.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Christen (Bruce) Hayner; his daughter Amanda (Hayner) Del Carlo, Esq., and son-in-law Thomas Del Carlo; his daughter Rachael (Hayner) Lum and son-in-law Alexander Lum; his grandsons, Sammy Del Carlo and Sebastian “Bash” Del Carlo; and his sister Deborah Jennings.
Born and raised in Independence, MO, son of John F. and Shirley R. Hayner, Greg was a lifelong and proud resident of the Kansas City area.
Greg graduated from Van Horn High School in Independence, MO. He served in the National Guard and studied business at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and computer science at Johnson County Community College. He worked as a successful computer programmer and software developer for many years.
He met his wife Christen in 1976 and they were married at the Village Presbyterian Church in 1977. Greg and Christen settled in Olathe, KS to build their life together.
Greg possessed a rare sense of humor that entertained his family and friends endlessly; he inherited his father’s great storytelling abilities and his mother’s spunk. He had a certain spark that attracted people to him instantly.
He enjoyed traveling, especially to warm weather destinations where he could escape winter and soak up the sunshine. He became a patron of the arts, watching his daughter Rachael perform in shows all over the world.
He was an avid sports fan, and loved to celebrate the wins and bemoan the losses of the Royals, the Chiefs, and the Mizzou Tigers. He could recite statistics from any game that was ever played and shared great insight on the management missteps of the franchises.
Above all, Greg loved spending time with his family. He marveled at his good fortune in finding such a dedicated wife. He delighted in his children and grandchildren. He welcomed his sons-in-law into the family with open arms. He was a source of sympathy, encouragement, unconditional love, and laughter to all.
As Greg’s illness progressed, his faith deepened. He loved the words of John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”), Psalm 46:10 (“Be still, and know that I am God”), and Psalm 63:1 (“O God, you are my God...My soul thirsts for you.”)
Greg continually astounded medical professionals with his tenacity. He defied the odds year after year. He truly fought the good fight.
Greg’s presence will be missed profoundly, but his family is comforted by the knowledge that he is no longer suffering and the belief that he is with God. Now, it is time for him to rest.
Donations may be made in Greg’s name at the Alpha 1 Foundation.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Christen (Bruce) Hayner; his daughter Amanda (Hayner) Del Carlo, Esq., and son-in-law Thomas Del Carlo; his daughter Rachael (Hayner) Lum and son-in-law Alexander Lum; his grandsons, Sammy Del Carlo and Sebastian “Bash” Del Carlo; and his sister Deborah Jennings.
Born and raised in Independence, MO, son of John F. and Shirley R. Hayner, Greg was a lifelong and proud resident of the Kansas City area.
Greg graduated from Van Horn High School in Independence, MO. He served in the National Guard and studied business at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and computer science at Johnson County Community College. He worked as a successful computer programmer and software developer for many years.
He met his wife Christen in 1976 and they were married at the Village Presbyterian Church in 1977. Greg and Christen settled in Olathe, KS to build their life together.
Greg possessed a rare sense of humor that entertained his family and friends endlessly; he inherited his father’s great storytelling abilities and his mother’s spunk. He had a certain spark that attracted people to him instantly.
He enjoyed traveling, especially to warm weather destinations where he could escape winter and soak up the sunshine. He became a patron of the arts, watching his daughter Rachael perform in shows all over the world.
He was an avid sports fan, and loved to celebrate the wins and bemoan the losses of the Royals, the Chiefs, and the Mizzou Tigers. He could recite statistics from any game that was ever played and shared great insight on the management missteps of the franchises.
Above all, Greg loved spending time with his family. He marveled at his good fortune in finding such a dedicated wife. He delighted in his children and grandchildren. He welcomed his sons-in-law into the family with open arms. He was a source of sympathy, encouragement, unconditional love, and laughter to all.
As Greg’s illness progressed, his faith deepened. He loved the words of John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”), Psalm 46:10 (“Be still, and know that I am God”), and Psalm 63:1 (“O God, you are my God...My soul thirsts for you.”)
Greg continually astounded medical professionals with his tenacity. He defied the odds year after year. He truly fought the good fight.
Greg’s presence will be missed profoundly, but his family is comforted by the knowledge that he is no longer suffering and the belief that he is with God. Now, it is time for him to rest.
Donations may be made in Greg’s name at the Alpha 1 Foundation.
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Military Service
War:
Vietnam
Branch:
United States Army National Guard
Rank:
Private