Kenneth John Ring (89) of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones, during the late evening hours of Monday, November 3, 2025, after having lived with dementia for several years.
John was born on August 15,1936 in Winfield, Kansas to the late Howard Arthur Ring and Olive Pearl (Rising) Ring, both of Burden, Kansas.
John’s siblings were his older sister, Maxine Boucher, younger brother, Stanley Ring, and younger sister, Sharon Hill. In his early years the family lived in Winfield as well as Burden, Kansas. His father owned a filling station, a farm and built houses, among other things. John helped his father in construction. He also worked in the local movie house in Winfield, delivered papers and worked in a bowling alley. John was educated in Winfield, and graduated from Winfield High School with the class of 1954. He went on to attend St. John’s College in Winfield and graduated with an Associate degree in accounting. He was a member of the Army National Guard for several years.
He married Carole Martin and they moved to Arkansas City, KS where they became the parents of two children, John Martin and Gaye Lyn. The family then moved to Overland Park, KS where John worked for a few years at American Motors. He went on to own PBS Accounting in Kansas City, KS while continuing his education by attending Avila University in Kansas City, MO. John opened Ring Public Accountant LLC in downtown Overland Park, KS and then later moved the office to Lenexa, Kansas. John was a member of NATP professional organization for over forty years and was an enrolled agent with the IRS. He was devoted to his many accounting and tax clients, who benefited greatly from his many years of experience, expertise, and services.
John’s marriage to Carole ended in divorce. He later married Donna Beeler and took on the role of dad to her two boys, Charles and Tim. After Donna’s death, he married Mary Schmidt, a widow, who lived in North Kansas City. John and Mary moved to Lenexa, Kansas in 1991 and Mary worked with John in his business for a number of years until they retired in 2015. Mary and John enjoyed traveling together, with cruises to the Bahamas, Alaska, and Hawaii, an eight day bus trip to South Dakota, and numerous trips to Branson, Mo and Las Vegas, NV. They also attended yearly tax conventions held in different cities. Mary and John attended many plays in the Kansas City area as John really enjoyed variety shows and dinner theatre.
Due to dementia, John spent several years in memory care. For close to two years his residence was at Rococo Health Care Services, Olathe, KS, where he received outstanding care. Our many thanks go out to the owners and staff of Rococo as well as to Ascend Hospice who compassionately attended to John’s increasing needs.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Olive Ring, his sister, Maxine Boucher, his brother, Stanley Ring, his sister, Sharon Hill and his second wife, Donna. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Mary Ring, his two children, son, John Martin Ring and daughter, Gaye Lyn Heilman, his stepchildren, Charles (Sharon) Beeler, Tim Beeler, Steve Schmidt, Roseann (John) Ecklund, Phil (Patty) Schmidt, Dan (Kimberly) Schmidt, and Patricia (Richard) Barnett. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Christa Heilman, John (Alexi) Heilman III, Mary (David) Morford, Tom (Nicole) Heilman, and Emily (Slava) Kirilov, his step grandchildren, Ross (Monica) Barnett, Amber Schmidt, Connor Wilson-Schmidt, Indigo Wilson-Schmidt, Brandon Schmidt, and Ashley Ecklund, as well as thirteen great grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren. John will be remembered for his gentle presence, quiet strength and kind spirit to all who knew and loved him.
A memorial service for John will be held at 1:30 pm on Thursday, November 13th at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS 66215.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Habitat for Humanity, Harvesters and/or City Union Mission, 1108 East 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.