Dr. Jerald PadfieldGarnett, KS

Dr. Jerry Padfield, age 83, longtime resident of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Monday, January 20, 2025, at Vintage Park of Osawatomie.

Jerald Joe Padfield was born on November 12, 1941, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Joe and Eva (Saving) Padfield, and brother to his big sister, Joyce. He spent some formative years in Chanute, but the vast majority of them were spent in Cherryvale, Kansas. Jerry contracted polio as a child and spent some time in an iron lung in Wichita. The doctors told him he would never walk again, the family believes this is when he first developed his "determined streak."

After proving the quacks wrong and walking home from his first day of second grade, he proclaimed to his older sister that he had just met the girl he was going to marry. His determination once again paid off, and over the course of the next decade he pursued the young lady, wearing down her resolve, and managed to eventually "out kick his coverage."

He was united in marriage to Susan Elaine Burns on December 30, 1962, in Cherryvale, Kansas. This union was eventually blessed with their son, Mark.

Jerry wanted badly to be an athlete, he threw his all into the efforts, but as he was "98 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal" when he graduated in 1960, he decided optometry might be a better fit. His days in a Cherryvale High School Fighting Cherry uniform were a source of pride for the rest of his life however.

He started his pathway to becoming an optometrist in Houston, Texas, but switched to the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated in 1967, and he and Susan settled in Garnett, Kansas, where he opened his practice. In the mid-1980s he opened a second practice in Kansas City, Missouri, spending part of the week in each location until his retirement in 2014.

One of his superpowers was being able to complete a thirty minute exam in about an hour. His patients knew that they needed to clear a little more time for their checkups, because they were going to have to suffer through numerous joke attempts and a handful of stories before they could get out of his examination chair. If they could manage that Herculean feat though, he was usually their eye doctor for life. Work hours and personal hours were blurred outside of his office as well as patients knew they could call him at home with an emergency at any time, and he would head to the office without hesitation.

Jerry was engaged in the community as well. He was a proud Rotarian for many years. He spent countless hours working as an adult leader with the local Boy Scout troop. He served on the Kansas Optometric Association Board of Directors from 1973-1980, serving as President in 1979. He sat on various boards and committees too numerous to count. He gave of himself tirelessly, and was happy to do so.

After retiring from optometry, "Doc" became a substitute teacher. Apparently he was well liked by the students; his son believes that is probably because he was both hard of hearing and the world's biggest push over. His happy place was on the sidelines or in the stands cheering for the Bulldogs, something he continued to do well after Mark graduated. He loved Garnett, and always considered it home.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Susan Padfield on August 14, 2020 and sister, Joyce Shaffer who passed on September 16, 2024.

He is survived by his son, Mark and wife, Rachel, of Tonganoxie, Kansas; two granddaughters, Sydney and Aubrey; nephews, Brent Shaffer and wife Teresa of Warsaw, Missouri; Kirk Shaffer and wife Stacie of Louisburg, Kansas; Chad Shaffer of Kansas City, Missouri; Thad Shaffer of Louisburg, Kansas; Robert Burns of Dallas, Texas; William Burns and wife Brenda of Lewisville, Texas; former sister-in-law, Connie Burns of Lewisville, Texas; several great nieces and nephews; and many family and friends.

A Celebration of Jerry's Life will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 7, 2025, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Inurnment will follow in the Cherryvale Cemetery, Cherryvale, Kansas. His family will greet friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday evening, February 6, 2025 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Dr. Jerry and Susan Padfield Scholarship and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com

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