Joe Rice

With heavy hearts, we announce that our dad, Joe Rice, has passed peacefully after a 3-year battle with cancer. He passed surrounded by family and faith at his assisted living residence in Overland Park, KS, on Thursday, March 27, 2025, just 1 day short of the anniversary of the death of our mom and his wife, Deloris (Dee) Rice, three years ago.

Joe was born on a farm in Norborne, MO, in 1936. He attended school in Bogard, Hale, and Carrollton, MO, and graduated from Carrolton High School in 1954. He worked for Bell Systems briefly before serving in the Army for two years, where he was stationed at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. After completing his service, he moved to KC, MO, and began working with Western Electric Telephone Company. He married Deloris M. Berning of Norborne, MO, who he met through mutual hometown friends, in 1961 and had two daughters.

Joe was an active leader in his daughters’ sports and youth group activities, and chaperoned many canoe and ski trips. He loved snowmobile trips, trapshooting, and quail hunting with his brother, brother-in-law, and bird dogs. Joe also enjoyed keeping up with his friends over a round of golf, a cup of coffee at McDonalds, or a beer at a local pub. After 37 years of service, he retired from Lucent Technologies in June of 1996 and continued as a proud union representative, vice president, and eventually president of his local CWA, Local 6391. Joe also served on the board of his credit union and was a member and Elder of Peace Lutheran Church in Raytown, MO, for as long as he was able.

We will miss his ornery smile, contagious laugh, and countless pranks. Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Deloris Berning Rice; his parents, Harry and Nellie Rice; his older brother, Sam Rice; older sister, Norene Carter; her husband, Hubert Carter; and his two nephews, Marty and Bruce Rice. He is survived by his daughter Jodi Farr of Olathe, KS, and husband Tim; children Jordyn and Seth; daughter Sherri Taylor of Palm Harbor, FL, and husband Kevin; sons Noah and Grayson; and sister-in-law Shirley Rice; nephew Ryan Carter and niece Janelle Murphy.

Memorial services will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at Peace Lutheran Church, 8240 Blue Ridge Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64138. Visitation from 9:30am-10:30am and funeral service stating at 10:30am. There will be a brief graveside service at 12:30pm at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Norborne, MO.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Peace Lutheran Church or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, lls.org.