Calvin Duane Canniff

Calvin D. Canniff, 103, of Osage City, Kansas passed away on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Peterson Assisted Living. A graveside service with military honors will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 1:00pm with Pastor Bart Herrington and Chaplain Casey Ingold officiating at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery located at 5181 Wildcat Creek Road, Manhattan, Kansas 66503.

Calvin was born March 17, 1923, in Quenemo, Kansas, the son of George N. and Ruth Leonard Canniff. His growing up years were spent in Quenemo, Haven, Hutchison, and Overbrook, Kansas. 

Calvin served in the United States Army in the European theater during World War II, earning four battle stars, including one for The Battle of the Bulge. He also served as a security guard for General Eisenhower at the Supreme Alliance Headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. Upon returning to the United States, he went to college in Emporia, Kansas to earn a degree in teaching. It was there he met his wife, Frances Frederickson. They were married on August 28, 1947 in St. Francis, Kansas.

Calvin's job as an instrumental music instructor took them to Turon, Kansas, where their two girls, Rita and Ruth, were born. Then the family moved to Logan, Bird City, St. Francis, and finally to Junction City, Kansas. While in Junction City, Calvin retired from teaching and worked for a time at the Abstract office. 

All the years they lived in Junction City, both Calvin and Frances were active member of the First Christian Church. 

Frances, his wife of 68 years, passed away in December of 2015, and Calvin moved to Peterson Assisted Living in Osage City to be near his youngest daughter Ruth. 

Calvin is survived by his daughter Rita Herrington and her husband Larry of Pearl, Missouri, and daughter Ruth McCabe and her husband David of Osage City, Kansas. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Frances, brother Howard Canniff, sister Marjorie Swisher, one great-granddaughter, and one great-grandson. 

Pallbearers include: grandsons Bart Herrington, Nick Herrington, Caleb McCabe and Mark McCabe, as well as two son-in-laws, Larry Herrington and David McCabe.