Jack McNickle, 78, of Cambridge, Kansas, passed away Sunday afternoon, December 19, 2021, at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.

Born December 3, 1943, in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, he was the son of Raymond S. "Jack" and Juanita (Swiggart) McNickle. He was raised and received his education in Burden, Kansas, graduating from Burden High School in 1961. He then attended and graduated from Northeastern Oklahoma College, where he played baseball and football. Following school, Jack began his career as a journalist in Council Grove as a sportswriter.

In 1967, he married Kathy Griffith in Texas. To this union, two children were born. The couple later divorced. Jack's award-winning work as a journalist took him to numerous places including Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arizona. He worked for the Topeka Capital Journal as the beat writer for the Kansas City Royals and was Sports Editor at the Coffeyville Journal, receiving national recognition for his article on Ken Zacher of Nowata High School. He also worked in multiple positions at the Caney Chronicle. While working as Sports Information Director at Coffeyville Community College, he began his coaching career as the college's first women's basketball coach.

Jack returned to his journalistic roots, moving to Grand Saline, Texas, working as Editor, covering all sports, writing a weekly article called "Alway on Wednesday", a column that won him many awards. Under Jack's leadership the Grand Saline Sun became a multiple award winning paper. Jack's talent and love for recruiting led to his coaching return as the Assistant Women's Basketball Coach in Coffeyville, and later at the University of Texas El Paso in the same position.

Jack moved to Winfield, Kansas, to care for his mother, and accepted the position of assistant coach at Southwestern College. He later worked for a season as the head coach for the Cedar Vale / Dexter Spartans before becoming the Women's Basketball Recruiting Coordinator for Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

In recent years Jack served on an as-need basis as pulpit preacher at Grenola Christian Church, Moline Christian Church, and Cambridge Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed fishing, basketball, baseball, raising flower gardens, and loved a wide variety of music.

His family includes his son David McNickle of Plano, TX; his daughter Angela Johnson of Sanger, TX; his brother Jim McNickle and wife, Mona of Arkansas City; his sisters, Helen McNickle of Rola, MO; Lelia McNickle of Tulsa, OK; his grandchildren, Chad Johnson and wife, Danielle of Amarillo, TX; Hannah Johnson of Sanger, TX; and his two great granddaughters Avery Kay and Hadleigh Rae Johnson of Amarillo.

In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by a brother Jerry McNickle.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, December 23, 2021, at Miles Funeral Service in Winfield. Interment will follow at New Salem Cemetery. A visitation is scheduled at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 5 to 7. The family will greet visitors during this time.

Jack's funeral service will be available to be viewed live at the following link: