John Norcross

John Dilwyn (J.D.) Norcross, 87, of Independence went to be with the Lord in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, at Windsor Place in Coffeyville, where he had been living for the past 18 months. J.D. was born in Dayton, Tennessee on May 2, 1929, the only child of George Dilwyn Horner Norcross and Ida Louella Abel. His father was a minister in the Congregationalist and Presbyterian churches in Missouri and Kansas prior to J.D.'s birth, and after a decade in Tennessee, the family moved back to Kansas, where J.D. resided the balance of his life. While in school at Fort Hays State College in the early 1950's, J.D. met and married fellow student Barbara Jane Hale of Alton, Kansas, on Jan. 28, 1952. Of this union were born three sons: J.D. (Lea) Norcross of Champaign, IL; George (Mary Rose) Norcross of Bloomington, IL; and James (Julia) Norcross of Champaign, IL. His sons provided J.D. with sixteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Following Barbara's death in 1996, J.D. was blessed to meet Helen Marie VanDyne Bolerjack of Independence, and the couple were united in marriage on Oct. 9, 1999, at First Church of the Nazarene in Independence. With this union J.D.'s family grew to include Helen's three children: son Jerry (Mary Jo) Bolerjack of Independence; daughters Linda (Dave) Mealiff of Beloit, KS and Beth (Robert) Donaldson of Antioch, CA; as well as sixteen additional grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. J.D. worked for more than 35 years for Dillons Food Stores out of Hutchinson, Kansas - retiring at age 73 after serving a good portion of his career as their Director of Construction and Equipment. Following his retirement, J.D. spent much time in service to the First Church of the Nazarene in Independence, assisting in the development and construction of the congregation's Family Life Center. All who know J.D. bear witness to his integrity, tireless zeal for the church, and committed care for friends and co-workers. The legacy of his selfless service is bearing fruit in the families of his sons and the congregations of Christians he has blessed throughout a lifetime of following Jesus Christ, his Savior and Lord. Friends may call at Potts Funeral Chapel, 122 S. Penn, Independence on Friday, Mar. 3, between noon and 8:00 p.m. The family will be receiving visitors at the Chapel from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A graveside service for family and close friends only will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 4, at Harmony Township Cemetery. All are welcome at the 11:00 a.m. funeral at First Church of the Nazarene, 3167 South Tenth, Independence. Memorial gifts can be directed to First Church of the Nazarene in Independence and marked "J.D. Norcross Memorial". They will be distributed to the work of the Gideons and Nazarene World Missions.

Visitation

Potts Chapel
122 South Penn Ave.
Independence, KS  67301
Friday, March 3, 2017
6-8 pm

Service

First Church of the Nazarene
3167 South 10th
Independence, KS  67301
Saturday, March 4, 2017
11am

Cemetery

Harmoney Township Cemetery
Rural Independence
Independence, KS  67301

Memorial Contributions

First Church of the Nazarence
3167 South 10th
Independence, KS  67301