John W. Hadl
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Memorial services for John W. Hadl, 82, Lawrence, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, December 16, 2022, at the Lied Center of Kansas. Masks are suggested but not required. John passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community.
John was born on February 15, 1940, in Lawrence, the son of Jess and Judy (McNish) Hadl.
John graduated from Lawrence High School and the University of Kansas. He played football in high school and then at the University of Kansas and then went on to play for several NFL teams, including the San Diego Chargers for 16 years. After his NFL career he coached professional and college teams. John returned to the University of Kansas to coach and then work in the Kansas Athletics’ Williams Education Fund until he retired after a three-decade career at KU.
John was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Diana Hadl; son, John W. Hadl, II; daughter, Jacqueline Julie Hadl-Fromm; three grandchildren, Marti Fromm, Julie Fromm, and Edward Fromm; and sister Julie Carole Hadl and many cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in John’s name to the John Hadl Football Legacy Fund, c/o KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044 or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
The family wants to thank the staff at Pioneer Ridge for the care that was given to John.
To Diana, Carole, Jackie, John II and grandkids…may he rest in peace…from as far back as I can remember when I met people, they ask our you related to John Hadl…yes, I am, we all our proud to be Hadls and distant cousins…. Mike Hadl…
My condolences to the family and the entire Hadl relations. John will be missed. A kind soul now resting in the peace.
Where to begin Ms Diane I’m so sorry for your loss thank you for giving me the honor and the pleasure of taking care of such a wonderful terrific loving man he will be greatly missed he will always be in my heart and have a big place in my heart and my life is smile made my day when I came to work he could just make me so happy thank you for sharing him with me as my pleasure and my honor taking care of him and knowing him such a wonderful wonderful man you are so loved as well thank you for always being so kind to me than understanding as you are a big part of my life too I will forever think of you both love you both so very very much to me he’s not gone he’s in our hearts and in heaven so one day we’ll meet him again up there and they’re playing football him and Gail Sayers I love you Miss Diane and Mr John hadle thank you for loving you a baby girl and made my day when we can watch Alabama play together and you always told everybody I was your Bama girl so let me in this by saying I love you so much Mr John hadle you are for always be in my heart and in my life in my thoughts till the day we meet again love always b o n n y AKA your Bama girl
My condolences to the family for your loss of John. I went to school at the same time he attended but I never had i never had a close friendship with him but h always spoke to me every time I He saw me in the hall at school, in public places also. I remember seeing John at the th4e world ice plant here in Lawrence after he signed with the San Diego Chargers and he was driving a thunderbird and he even spoke to me then. I never saw him accept on TV while he was playing football and I always like to see him play on Sundays. But I did get to talk to him when he was at Pioneer Ridge and then sat down and talked to him at other times while after we would entertained the people with music. I have talked about John to other people and they always spoke about him with high regard. I am sure you will miss him and his memory will be a treasure to you.
My condolences to the family for your loss of John. I went to school at the same time he attended but I never had i never had a close friendship with him but h always spoke to me every time I He saw me in the hall at school, in public places also. I remember seeing John at the old ice plant here in Lawrence after he signed with the San Diego Chargers and he was driving a thunderbird and he even spoke to me then. I never saw him accept on TV while he was playing football and I always like to see him play on Sundays. But I did get to talk to him when he was at Pioneer Ridge and then sat down and talked to him at other times while after we would entertained the people with music. I have talked about John to other people and they always spoke about him with high regard. I am sure you will miss him and his memory will be a treasure to you.
Sorry to hear of John’s passing. He was a great person, and will be missed by many. Our sympathy to the family.
Sorry to hear the passing of John ! I
can remember when I met him at Brandon Woods and asked him if I could see his superbowl ring, he and his family are wonderful people! Sending prayers and condolences to the family
That smile…John had a smile and enthusiasm to talk about the day that just made you forget about any worries you might have had on your mind. He definitely made my father’s stay at Pioneer easier, having someone to converse with that had a rich full life with stories to share.
John would talk about his beautiful wife stopping by…and how one of these times he would introduce her when she visits next. He would glow when he spoke of you Mrs. Hadl.
Tim and I only knew John in his latter years…my father knew of Johns younger days playing football at KU and thereafter. It was an honor to spend those moments at dinner during our visits with dad when they all sat together,getting to share in John’s love for life and excitement in sharing it with us.
I am sorry I never got to meet you Mrs. Hadl. Our condolences for your loss, but our grateful thanks for sharing him with us. May your many years of memories and love make this passage in time easier.
I was one of two football student managers from 1959 to 1963 for the KU football team. For almost six months a year I would see John daily at football practice. There was no more a kinder, finer, gentleman than John. Always a kind word. A little shy at times because of the attention he received. Loved a good joke and had a great laugh. I was on the sideline at Oklahoma when he set the Big 8 record for longest punt, over 90 yards. He loved football, the practices, the “team” closeness and Saturday afternoons. Long after his career was over whenever we met he had a nice word to say and was the gentleman I spoke of early. Even now, a crisp Autumn day lets me recall the great player he was and how much he loved KU football. Thanks John for your friendship.
John was one of the sweetest patients I have taken care of. You could never be upset or mad at him, even if he made a mess. He was always sorry that he had caused any problem, always smiling, and glad to see me. He didn’t always want to eat, but I usually had a few tricks to get him to eat or take his meds. He will be missed by many. It was an honor to take care of him, and to care for him. I will miss you John, and never forget your smile and grace to all.
To his wife, I am so sorry he is gone, I know you will miss him, his smile.,his love and caring, he had a generous heart for people..your family is in my prayers..
Sheila Bloom (was an RN at Pioneer Ridge)
What a rush of memories about John when as a little boy being taken to Lawrence games, then watching at Ku and Pro. I have a memory emblazoned on my mind about John’s athletic prowess. I was in grade school, and in those days all the grade school kids sat in the bowl of the stadium as members of the KUFF. That stands for KU Future Fans. We wore little badges. I was sitting in the bowl, and I don’t know who KU was playing. John made All-American at half back one year, and that year we had the ball on our own 2 yard line. John was at half back. The quarterback pitched to John and he kicked a quick kick one or 2 yards deep in our own end zone. The ball barely crossed the other goal line and rolled out of bounds 1 yard deep in the other in zone. 105 yards. In those days, if a punt rolled into the end zone, 20 yards was subtracted to the punt, so he was only credited with like a 75 yard punt, but it was actually historic. Thanks for the memories. Condolences to the family. RIP.
RIH John Hadl
We have so many fond memories of John during our Lawrence days. He was bigger than life. Mike remembers study sessions of anatomy and physiology with John, the one coursework John needed to graduate. John was an expert tutor because every year before the exam he would sign a new contract and leave. The next year he would study again. That is a very fond memory of Mike’s being a member of the study group one year.
Farewell to a KU all time great.
Sincere sympathy to the Hadl family, especially to his sister Carole Hadl.
Mike and Teri Sweatman