Jeff Thomas

Jeffrey L. "J.T." Thomas was born on December 20, 1957, to Gail and Mary Ann (Fischer) Thomas in Beloit, Kansas. Jeff passed away on May 16, 2026 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, Kansas.

Jeff lived his entire life in Mitchell County. First east of Hunter, then in Hunter, then moving to the 3-J Ranch between Hunter and Beloit in 1963. There, as a little boy, he helped his father and grandfather every chance he got to work and feed cattle and fix fence. Jeff attended Laban Rural School through third grade, then attended Beloit schools, graduating from BHS in 1976. Jeff started drawing as a youngster after watching his Uncle Bill Fischer draw, and he never stopped.

Jeff played football in junior high and in high school ran track and was a proud member of coach Clayton Williams' team that won the 2A Kansas State Football Championships in 1975.

After high school Jeff worked various home construction jobs until going to work once again on the ranch with his father, and for ten years of that time, with his wife Marilyn. While working for the ranch he began a side business of building farm and ranch fencing.

Jeff began a lifelong partnership with Marilyn Wendell in 1980 and they married in 1985.

When the 3-J ranch was sold, Jeff expanded his fencing business to create Lone Wolf Fencing, working alone and with help from Marilyn to move equipment from worksite to worksite. Jeff and Marilyn moved to her family farmhouse southeast of Beloit in 2001 and into town in 2013.

Jeff liked hard work outdoors and lifting weights. He loved to read about and watch documentaries about history of all kinds but especially warfare and weaponry. Marilyn's cousin Jerry Wendell talks of telling Jeff that a coyote was killing his lambs. Jeff wrapped himself in burlap as camouflage, laid low, and ended the coyote the first night. Marilyn told Jerry the burlap was Jeff's ghillie suit. Jerry asked how Jeff knew about such a thing. Easy, Marilyn said, from his love of history and military.

Jeff's hobby was drawing with pencil which he did in his free time almost every day. People paid for his portraits of their family members and pets. Jeff donated many framed drawings to auction fundraisers for those in need in the community.

Jeffrey was preceded in death by grandparents Henry and Elizabeth Fischer and George and Matilda Thomas and his parents He was preceded in death by infant sister Patricia, niece Regan Wheeler, and by his parents-in-law Wilford "Butch" and Mildred Wendell. .

Jeff is survived by his wife, Marilyn Wendell Thomas, of Beloit. His siblings also survive: Krista (Rex) Jackson of Wichita; Konnie (Rick) Wheeler of Whitewater; and Jan Thomas of Beloit. He is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim (Elsie) Wendell of Salina; Dan (Judy) Wendell of Wichita. Barbara (David) Miller of Burlington, Iowa, and Bob (Dena) Wendell of Holt Summit, Missouri.

Jeff will be missed by his many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026 from 1-7 PM, with family present from 4-6 PM Monday, May 18 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held at Saint John's Catholic Cemetery in Beloit on Tuesday, May 19,2026 at 1 p.m. The casket will be closed. Please feel free to dress casually.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Boost Ministries of Beloit or Solomon Valley Humane Society.