John “Johnny” Manuel Lopez, Jr.
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John Manuel Lopez, Jr., 47, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully, with his wife and daughters by his side on June 6, 2021.
Johnny was born July 12, 1973, to Stacy Honoré and John Lopez, Sr. in Los Angeles, California. Johnny was one of the chosen few who knew as a small child that he wanted to protect and serve. He started that journey when he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He credits his drill sergeants for making him a great listener, transforming him into the man he became, and preparing him to raise two daughters. He would often share with friends and family that there is no better way to get your life on track than to join the military. After boot camp, Johnny applied to several police academies. He was hopeful of remaining in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his grandparents. Still, when he was offered a placement at the Kansas City Police Department, he jumped on the opportunity because he loved the Kansas City Chiefs. We are grateful that the KCPD brought him to the place he called home. Johnny met the love of his life, JoAnn, in 2000, and they were married in 2002 and began to build a home filled with endless love and laughter. His life changed in unbelievably exciting ways with the birth of his daughters Katalina in 2003 and Maria in 2005.
Johnny loved being a husband, but it was the honor of becoming a dad that made his heart soar. Johnny worked tirelessly to make sure that his daughters felt his love and that his ears and heart were always open. He loved to listen to everything they had to say and would make sure he was present in their lives each day. His favorite time of day was dinner, when he could sit down at the table with his family and get the daily scoop. Anything that his daughters or their friends wanted to share, he wanted to listen to. He would listen patiently, and sometimes he would offer advice, and other times he would smile. There wasn’t anything Johnny wouldn’t do to make his daughters smile, and he was always encouraging them to want more out of life. In turn, his daughters filled his heart to the brim. They could make him laugh until he cried and channel his military training all within the span of ten seconds, which always ended in even more laughter. Johnny instilled so many life lessons in his daughters, but the greatest and most important of them all was honesty. Katalina and Maria, your dad was proud of his many accomplishments, proud of his many relationships, proud of the change he was able to make in this world. Still, his greatest accomplishment and his greatest pride has always been you two. The unconditional love he felt for you both will be what carries you the rest of your life.
Johnny was appointed to the Kansas City Missouri Police Department on December 19, 1999. Johnny served the City of Kansas City as a Patrol Officer for 21 years and 5 months and there was nowhere else he wanted to be. He worked hard every day to be responsible and accountable to our community. He was honored to stand with his brothers and sisters in blue and hold the line. Johnny’s sudden departure was felt by many, and he would want you always to remember that although you cannot physically see him, he is right there with you.
Johnny’s friendships over the years are endless, and there are just too many to list, but you know who you are and what you meant to him (especially Lindy). From the DJ community to his gaming group, he would want you to keep on doing your thing and live your life to the fullest.
To his nieces (Megan and Natalia), nephews (Calvin, Ashton and Ricky), and godsons (Brandon and Nicholas), he wants you to continue becoming the amazing people he knew you would be, and always do that with a smile and a little chuckle.
Johnny was preceded in death by his father, John Lopez, Sr., his grandfather Morel Honoré, and his mother-in-law Mary Tracy. Survivors include his wife, JoAnn Lopez, his daughters Katalina Lopez and Maria Lopez, his mother Stacy Honoré, his stepmother Daisy Lopez, his sisters Tiffany Seibold and Gabriela Lopez, his grandmother “Me Mother” Yolanda Honoré, his cousins (who were like brothers to him) and aunts and uncles (who he loved dearly) in Nevada, and California, his father-in-law Rick Tracy and his brothers-in-law, Rickie, Carl (Janet) and Paul (Christine) Tracy.
A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 18, 2021, at English Landing Park in Parkville, Missouri. Johnny will be honored for his services to the United States Marine Corps and honored for his creditable service to the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.
For everyone else reading this, we know that Johnny would want you to live a life that you can be proud of, a life with people in it you love unconditionally, a life with honesty, integrity, and hard work at its core, a life where you work hard and then play hard.
A memorial account for John’s daughters is being set up with the Kansas City Public Safety Credit Union. Monetary donations can be through them in memory of John Lopez.
Any cards, flowers or plants can be sent to North Patrol c/o Major Joel Lovelady to be hand delivered to the family.
my dearest brother, i will miss you forever. i love you so much. give my love to daddy and grandma and grandpa lopez
My dearest Johnny, I am so glad to have seen the milestones you have achieved and accomplished in life. You chose a path that made you into a courageous man, husband and father and for that, I am so very proud of you and when I hugged you not knowing it would be the last time, I knew you felt it. I have loved you through it all and will continue beyond death.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Continue to shine your light, my nephew, from heaven and Rest In Peace ?? Love Aunt Jan
RIP brother. You will be missed.
My dearest John Jr., I Love you forever & ever. You’ll always be in my heart ? Say Hi to ur grandma Lopez (my mom), grandpa Lopez (my dad), ur dad, John (my brother) and the rest of the Lopez family who aren’t here with us! Love, Aunt Christina
John I picked u for a reason to be the Godfather of Brandon and Nicholas, you had those great qualities very rarely seen in a person. Your devotion to Joann and your daughters is outstanding your kindness and your love of life was amazing. You were a good friend and I will truly miss u my brother.
I will never forget you, my big cousin “brother” Johnny. Love you forever!
John you will be missed. You my friend were definitely one of the good ones. May God comfort your family and loved ones. Job well done, we got it from here. Rest in heaven.
I’m at loss of words. I am so sorry for your alls loss. My heart, thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Johnny was not my nephew by blood but I considered him my nephew. I am proud of all his accomplishments and the man he had become. Rest in heaven Johnny. Sincere condolences ? to his family ???
My Dearest Nephew I Love You
His Journey’s Just Begun – Ellen Brenneman
Don’t think of him as gone away
his journey’s just begun,
life holds so many facets
this earth is only one.
Just think of him as resting
from the sorrows and the tears
in a place of warmth and comfort
where there are no days and years.
Think how he must be wishing
that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away.
And think of him as living
in the hearts of those he touched…
for nothing loved is ever lost
and he was loved so much.
John I’m honored and proud to serve/work with you for the past 12 years at north patrol. You were always funny when we shared war stories. You will be missed greatly. I appreciate everything you have done. My prayers are with your beautiful family. Rest In Peace brother.
God speed John. You will be missed.
R.I.P Brother, you will always be in my heart when I roll a d20. May you the fly with the Angel’s, and the Lord hold your family in his arms and give them comfort, To Joann and your daughters, I am so very sorry for your loss. Praying for all of you in this difficult time.
Johnny (big brother) you will never be forgotten. You will always live in our hearts and we all know that you will always be watching over us.
Johnny , you will always be in my heart forever . Your daddy was so proud of you and loved you so much .
My deepest condolences to your wife and daughters for this terrible loss . My prayers for the family.
John “DJ Johnny Boy”
I love you Brother. I thank you for many things. Always brought joy and love. When getting together or sharing messages. Giving advice, keeping me/us straight and sharing laughter. I met great Fam because of you. Max and Emil plus others. I love the joy you had at Draftcade playing music. And all our moments at the Taco truck. Where we would all meet together. Sharing conversations about our crew, Fam, Joanne and the girls. You was always about your family. Even with your passion of music. Family came first. You were always there for others, me and my sons as well. As busy as we all got. You always found a way to make time. I love you so much. Thank you for always being there when I needed you. You saved me more than you know. We are forever in debt to you, JoAnne and the gals. Thank you for everything. J Boy 4 Life ?
I was blessed to know John for only a few years through his youngest daughter who is a member of our Volleyball Club.
He was an amazing person, who always was a delight to talk to at tournaments.
A light has gone out in this world, and he will be sorely missed.
John… Forever an Angels Fan & now an Angel! Godspeed brother. It was a pleasure being friends & you will be missed dearly.
Sending Healing Prayers & Vibes to Jo & Girls, may God watch over and comfort you. ?? Love you girlies! Xoxo ?
Sweet John, you always brought a smile to my face when you called! Thank you for being such a wonderful part of so many lives. You set the bar, Sweetness. We will miss you.
A song for JohnnyBoy from MeMother
(She was not able to type but this is what she said for whom she gave him the name “JohnnyBoy”
I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me shall not hunger;
he who believes in me shall not thirst.
No one can come to me
unless the Father draw him.
And I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up on the last day.
The bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world,
and he who eats of this bread,
he shall live for ever,
he shall live for ever.
And I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up on the last day.
II am the resurrection,
I am the life.
He who believes in me
even if he die,
he shall live for ever.
And I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up,
and I will raise him up on the last day.
I Love you my little JohnnyBoy
Johnny, you are a first cousin that I never met; yet so sad to hear of your passing. My condolences to the family and all those who knew and loved you.
My condolences to JoAnn, Katalina, Maria, and the entire extended Lopez Family. I found out about John’s death shortly after he passed away, and was totally shocked that he had passed away so soon. Like everyone else, I’m at a loss for words.
I had the pleasure of working with John for many years before I retired in 2016. John and I, rode together for quite some time when he was just married, bought his home, and was having his kids. I was his partner, and sector mate during the time that he was starting his DJ business, and he would talk about all of the fancy lighting, and sound effect equipment that he was buying to make his business even better. He always wanted to stop by his house to see his girls and his wife, and was very proud of all of them. John was a great partner, officer, husband, father, and anything else you can add to the long list of greatness. He was very smart and would always research policies when he believed that the superiors were wrong in their decisions, and actions.
John also had a great sense of humor, and was always laughing about something. Matter of fact, I remember the look in his eyes when he realized that he had “stop sticked” some innocent citizen, flattening all four of their tires, as we were trying to assist with a car chase. We kinda looked at each other when he got back into the car with him only saying, I think I’m in trouble. Moments later, we were laughing out loud even though it wasn’t funny, it was just pretty hilarious that he just jumped out of the car and threw the sticks in front of the first car that came along. In the end, the department bought four new tires for the citizen and all of us went back to work. Not sure if that story was appropriate given the circumstances, but for those who didn’t have the pleasure of knowing John, they really missed out on knowing a great guy. My prayers and thoughts are with John, and his entire family. My thoughts are with you until we meet again John.