John Ronald Fortino, 94, of Overland Park, Kansas, went to be with our Lord on Saturday, July 25th, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on December 9, 1931, in Carona, Kansas, the son of John and Dorothy (Manderino) Fortino. As a young boy, he spent his summers working in the coal mines or hammering railroad spikes in southeastern Kansas. He graduated from West Mineral High School and later joined the United States Army in 1953 to serve alongside his brother-in-law. After serving in Korea for 16 months, he was honorably discharged in 1955. He went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Business, majoring in Accounting from the University of Kansas in 1957. He became a Certified Public Accountant and a life member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He also completed the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration Smaller Company Management Program. On June 6, 1959, he was united in marriage to Mary Eileen Reda in Scammon, Kansas at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church. He worked as a CPA for Baird, Kurtz & Dobson for 7 years, then was employed by Newman Mercantile Company for 23 years, first as Treasurer and then later as President and a member of the Board of Directors. In 1988, he began working for Smith Vending Company as Treasurer & CFO until retiring in 1996. In retirement, he maintained his CPA skills working in tax preparation during tax seasons for several firms including Liberty Tax, H&R Block and Accounting & Advisory Services for many years. He was President of St. Mary’s Catholic church parish council in Joplin, MO and President of Southwest Missouri Regional Catholic School Board. He served on the Springfield Cape Girardeau Diocesan School Board and the St. John’s Medical Center Board in Joplin. After 44 years living in Joplin, MO, he & his wife moved to Olathe, KS to be near their children & grandchildren. He joined the Cure’ of Ars Catholic church choir and the Heart of America Barbershop Chorus where he served as treasurer. He was a Life member and 4th degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. He later became a member of Church of the Ascension Catholic Parish in Overland Park. He was a perfect example of sacrificial love and passed his faith on to his children & their families. He had many words of advice, but the most impactful was “Do your best and let the Lord do the rest.” He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary E. Fortino, children, Ronald Fortino (Elizabeth), John Fortino (Leann), Mark Fortino (Sarah), & Christy Meier (Jerry), 13 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Mary Catherine, a sister & brother-in-law, Dorothy Ann Kapler (Bill), a brother & sister-in-law, Mike Fortino (Joan), and great-grandson, James Bierbaum.
Visitation is Friday, July 31st 6:00-8:00pm with rosary at 7pm at Church of the Ascension Catholic Church, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, KS. Visitation 10:30-11am Saturday, Aug 1st followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am at Church of the Ascension. Burial 2:45pm Saturday at Highland Cemetery, Pittsburg, KS.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sisters Servants of Mary, https://sisterservantsofmary.org/donate as well as donations for masses to be said at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church (Leawood, KS), Church of the Ascension (Overland Park, KS) & Cure of Ars Catholic Church (Leawood, KS).
Arrangements: Porter Funeral Homes & Crematory, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS (913) 438-6444. Condolences may be expressed at: www.porterfuneralhome.com