Joseph "Joe" John Ley

Joseph John Ley, 'Joe', age 99 3/4 of Rogers, Arkansas died January 13, 2024. Born April 8, 1924 in Wien, Missouri to Joseph Peter and Angela Mary (Musholt) Ley. He served in WWII as a Technical Sergeant in the Army Combat Engineers. He graduated from Quincy College in 1949 with honors in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. He worked at Wendt-Sonis company and its successor companies as both a Field Sales Manager and Manager of Technical Services for 56 years, retiring from Kennemetal in 2006. He held multiple patents for his carbide tools. He served and led seminars and conventions for many societies including; the Technical Committee for the Cemented Carbide Association, chairman of the American Society of Testing Materials, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and traveled extensively with the International Standard Organization's Tool Standardization committee.

He was a devout Catholic and active member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. He served the church as a CYO President for Illinois, taught 12th grade CCD for 40 years, was a choir member, parish council member, and was a lector and Eucharistic minister until his late 80s. He loved his wife, family, the lake, boating and especially sailing, photography, politics/world affairs, computers, genealogy/history, faith, hunting, fishing, celebrating holidays, fireworks at 4th of July, road trips, traveling internationally, grilling, collecting liquors, and watching storms. He was a loving husband, father, grandpa, and great-grandpa, and there wasn't a day he didn't talk about his beloved wife.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 60 years, Rita (Freiburg) Ley; and siblings, Frank (Vera) Ley, Mary (Bob) Hilgenbrinck, and Angela Ley.

He is survived by his siblings, John (Betty) Ley and Robert (Delores) Ley of Quincy, IL.; children, Joseph (Amy) Ley of Kingsport, TN, Cathy (Tom) Cornell of Columbia, MO, Bruce (Cindy) Ley of Rogers, AR, Paul (Cheryle) Ley of Centerton, AR, Teresa (Tony) Holman of St. Louis, MO, Barbie (Tom Pfeifer) Campbell of Rogers, AR, Greg (Shawn) Ley of Bentonville, AR, and Carolyn Ley of Rogers, AR; 18 grandchildren and 3 3/4 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 19, 2024 from 11-11:45 am at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church's daily chapel. A Funeral Mass will follow in the main sanctuary. Burial will be at St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery. For memorials, please have Masses said in his memory at your own parish.