James Slack

James L. Slack, 71, died Friday, December 1, 2017 at Aldersgate Village in Topeka. He was born October 2, 1946 at Council Grove, the son of Carl and Lena McDiffett Slack. He graduated from Council Grove High School with the class of 1964. James graduated from Manhattan Christian College in 1996 with a BA in Pastoral Care. James had lived in Asheville, NC for 12 years before moving back to Kansas. He had been a respiratory therapist during his time in NC, later an employee of Charter Funeral Home in Emporia and had served as pastor at several Kansas churches. He was a member of the Christian Church in Council Grove. He is survived by his first spouse Sarah Gragg and second spouse Becky Glessner. While divorced, they remained good friends. Other survivors include his daughter , Leah Stirewalt, Hickory, NC; son, Derek (Shawna) Slack, Rossville; daughter, Erin Waters, Asheville, NC; step-children, Ginni Jenkins, Hiawatha, Vicki (Eric) Milam, Eldorado, AR, and Clayton (Becky) Glessner, Alta Vista; grandchildren, Anna, Josiah, Benjamin, Katerina, Austyn, Jonah, Ashley, Jeremy, Danielle, Joshua, Mindy, Riann, Jeremy, Kaden, Jennifer, Joshua, Janna, Brandie, Jacob, and Stacey. Memorial services will be at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 16, 2017 at the Council Grove Christian Church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Piper Funeral Home which will deposit the gifts into an account for a grandson's medical expense. The donations may be sent to Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536. Online condolences may be sent to www.piperfuneralhome.com.