Jon A. Levin, 83, passed away December 12, 2019. Born, December 16, 1935.
Jon A. Levin was Chairman of the Board of University Book Store, Inc. and owner of Varney’s Book Store. He headed a family partnership that includes Premier Car & Dog Wash, Able Printing Company, and other commercial interests. Levin worked at Varney’s since 1957, serving the community and K-Staters for 59 years.
A native of Lindsborg, KS, Levin graduated from Kansas State University in 1957 with a degree in Business Administration. He was a 1956 Chair of Campus Entertainment Committee and organized entertainment for the KSU Student Union grand opening celebration. Levin also served a student member of the Farrell Library Advisory Committee, and held continuous season tickets to K-State Football and Basketball games since 1953.
While at K-State, Jon was inducted into Delta Sigma Phi fraternity in 1954. He enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1960 and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Knox, and Aberdeen Proving Ground. He also served at Fort Riley as his unit was called to active duty for 10 months when the Berlin Wall was built.
Jon is preceded in death by his wife, Lila, and parents Joseph and Amy Levin. Jon and Lila married in 1956, and he is survived by three children: Jeff of Bremerton, WA, Steve and wife Lori of Manhattan, KS, and Susan of Kansas City. He was most proud of his seven grandchildren: Joseph Levin (spouse Lyndall Farley, Jonas Levin (spouse Erica Foster, Arianna Levin, Amy Levin Plattner (spouse Silvan Plattner, Ethan Levin, Ben Boerger, and Charles Boerger. He is also survived by his sister Darlene Blazek of Greely, CO.
Levin was an Advisory Board member for the Beach Museum of Art, Trustee Emeritus for the Kansas State University Foundation, a life member of the K-State Alumni Association, and member of the President’s Leadership Circle and KSU Music Advisory Council. In addition, Levin served as Board Member and Treasurer of the Birger Sandzen Memorial Art Gallery in Lindsborg, KS. Levin and wife Lila were avid supporters of the Friends of the KSU Gardens, Beach Museum, and McCain Auditorium.
Active in civic and professional organizations, Levin served as a Board Member and Campaign Co-Chair of Riley County United Way. He is a former Board Member of Riley County Red Cross, Flint Hills Bread Basket, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, Manhattan Rotary Club, Manhattan Country Club, Aggieville Business Association, Mid-states Association of College Stores, National Association of College Stores, and Board of Directors and Committee Chair for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and was recognized with the K-State Student Union Vision Award.
Jon A. Levin was a 1983 graduate of Leadership Kansas, and supported Kansas State University Athletics, the College of Business, and the College of Architecture, Planning, and Design through generous financial scholarships, gifts of architectural supplies and materials, and support of faculty and student activities.
Cremation is planned with memorial services to be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, December 19th, at the First Presbyterian Church, 801 Leavenworth, Manhattan, with Reverend Jim Reed officiating. Inurnment will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Fort Riley.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jon’s name to The Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery or the American Lung Association. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.