Paul Honnold

Jon Paul Honnold

KANSAS – Jon Paul Honnold, 70, of Kansas, passed away Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at his home.

The funeral service honoring his life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the Kansas Christian Church, 110 N. Franklin, Kansas, Illinois with Bret Hammond and Rich Carmicheal officiating.  Military rites will be performed by the Kansas American Legion, Westfield American Legion, and the Illinois Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team.  Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church.  Memorials: Kansas Christian Church Trustees, SBLHC Cancer Center, or Lincolnland Hospice.

Paul was born October 18, 1949 in Terre Haute, IN, son of Chester P. and Josephine (Boulware) Honnold.  He married Joyce Ann Nociar at the Freewill Baptist Church in Ina, Illinois; she survives.  Also surviving are their sons, Matt Honnold and wife Corrie of Oreana, IL and Mike Honnold and wife Katrina of Hogansville, GA.  Five grandchildren, Natalie Jo, Emily, and Meredith of Oreana, IL and John Michael and James Patrick of Hogansville, GA.  A niece, Paula Riley also survives, along with several great-nieces and great-nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Isaac Boulware Honnold.

Paul graduated from Kansas High School in 1967 and from Eastern Illinois University with a BS in Education in 1972, where he was a member of Epsilon Pi Tau Scholastic Fraternity.  He served in the Illinois Army National Guard, 682^nd Combat Engineer Battalion for six years.

Paul and Joy farmed Honnold’s Twin Creek Farm from 1976 – 2005.  They were the 5^th generation on the family farm that was established in Kansas Township in 1857, by Paul’s great-great-grandfather James, originally from Ohio.  Paul had seed dealerships with Asgrow, DeKalb, and later Midwest Genetics.  In the 1990’s, he and Joy adopted 2 miles of State Highway 49 along the farm and Harmony Cemetery for cleanup several times during the summer. 

After farming, Paul and Joy managed the family farms and the trust they had established.  He was very proud of the family farm, now in its seventh generation of ownership, and along with that newest generation, share a mutual love of the land and family heritage.  Knowing this was comforting for Paul to know that the farm would continue into the future.

Paul was a fifth-generation member of the former Harmony United Methodist Church, where he served as Organist, Pianist, and Sunday School Teacher.  He has also served as Treasurer of the Harmony Cemetery Association. After Harmony United Methodist Church closed, Paul and Joy became members of the Kansas Christian Church, where he has served as a former Elder, Missions Chair, Sunday School Teacher, and Sunday School Superintendent. 

Paul was a member of the Edgar County Farm Bureau, where he served as a former Director, Vice-President, and President.  He had also served on numerous county, district, and state committees.  Paul participated in three Leaders to Washington lobby trips.

Paul was very active in his community, and invested his time and efforts to improve by serving in numerous capacities.  He was an Ag Leader of Tomorrow graduate, a Life Member of the Future Farmers of America, and a Life Member of the Kansas American Legion.  He was designated as an Outstanding Young Man of America, was a recipient of the Farm Bureau Loyalty Award, a Past Member of the Lake Land College Advisory Board, a Past Member of the Pleasant Meadows Retirement Home Advisory Board, had served as Village President of Kansas, a Kansas Township Library Trustee, and was a multiple gallon blood donor.

Paul and Joy loved to travel, and were able to visit all fifty states in addition to twenty-three foreign countries.

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