So sorry to discover that our lovely American friend Joel is no longer with us. We’d caught up over the last few years and chatted via FaceTime. He’d told us he was suffering from cancer but seemed positive that things were improving. Sadly we were dealing with illness in our own family and having messaged in April, we never knew he’d gone. We lived our time with him in KC and had hoped he’d visit us in France but it was not to be. Sending much love to his friends and family he’ll be so missed. Claire and Nick Farlam

For the Family of Joel Reyes may you hold fond memories of such a great brother, friend, and etc.  We grew up in the same neighborhood and during the summer months we shared many laughs on our porch and swing set of our parents' residence.  As children we make lifetimes memories which are special to us.   We never forget these memories may Joel rest in peace and know how many friends will miss his striking smile/laughter.  Prayers for all of his Family and keep Joel in your thoughts /memories forever.  Our childhood friends really are treasures even if we live miles apart it is wonderful to always pick up conversations with our friends during their journey of life.   Thanks, for all the memories love.  Carmen

Joel took this pic of me in Mexico. We thought it was hilarious! Bimbo! We laughed about it for years.  

Joel and I in Mexico City in the early 90s. We had soooo much fun! 

My condolences to the Reyes family. I remember. 
Meeting  Joel as children  in 3rd grade at Switzer We grew up on Holly. Street 
I remember visiting with him and his siblings often I wasn't in touch with Joel in past years, but once a friend , I kkew I would always be his friend    I won't say goodbye, instead I will say I know we'll meet again one  day my friend.   Veronica lopez-garcia

My condolences to the family of Joel Arthur Reyes. I met Joel years ago in St. Louis. We became good friends. I visited him in KC ,MO and also Oakland, CA.  He was a good person, great guy, and friend.
Joel you will be missed.
Ron Spivey
(St. Louis, MO)


My sweet brother I'm going to miss our spiritual and life conversations!
Be still my love! Your little sis.

My brother  - My best friend .  I see the twinkle in your eyes  - I hear your laugh  -  I see your wonderful smile .  I Love You - I Love You - I Love You 💙🦋💜.         Tina

I worked with Joel since 2011 in my position as the broker for a company with a 401(k) plan with Principal.  He was the best of what one could ask for in a colleague.  

We (Joel, the plan's administrator and I) would often have lunch after the annual plan review (pre-COVID).  His humor, warmth, intelligence and integrity were refreshing and distinguishing.  

He was "one of the good guys".  

My deepest condolences to his family, co-workers and friends.

I do and will miss him.

Scott Bray

 Joel was the Account Executive for the company I work for since 2011, and I always looked forward to our annual meetings. He was such a kind, considerate and positive person and it was a joy to know him. I will miss that positivity, his competence and especially his sense of humor.

My condolences to Joel's family.

I had the privilege of meeting Joel and his wonderful sisters Ruth and Tina in the hospital. Joel was always strength, Grace and positivity personified, and an inspiration to be around. He is missed and remembered in Oakland. Nothing makes me happier than to know that he made it back to Kansas City to the loving embrace of his exceptional family.  Rest in peace, Joel.

Friends for almost 40 years!
Joel was “Family”….my little “Bro”!
We shared so much together!
So many wonderful memories!
So many laughs!
We were all so blessed to have had him in our lives! 
Love you forever buddy!❤️

Joel and I worked together for 14 years. He will be missed. He was so sweet and kind all the time. 


Oct. 2017 - Joel and I were in Des Moines for training at Principal's corporate office.  I got to know Joel then and found him to be a very gentle soul with fun in his bones and a lot of room for forgiveness in his heart.   Since the lockdown, we'd check-in almost daily to chat about anything and everything just to take a break from work.  I miss our daily calls.  I was so looking forward for him to be back with us but that wasn't God's plan for him.  They probably need another angel up there which Joel is for sure.  I miss you my friend!

We will miss you so much but for sure at Christmas dinners.
Love and Hugs Gary Johns and John Schneider

For my high school graduation, Uncle Joel decided to pay for a plan ticket for me to come and visit him. To this day, I believe he only invited me because I was going to UMKC and he was excited I was going to the same school he did.  My sister and grandmother also tagged along. From the minute we touched down in Oakland, he would not stop talking about In & Out! That was they very first stop we made. From then on, he planned the whole trip. He was kind enough to let us sleep in his bedroom while he slept on the couch. He was so selfless. I would find things I would like and he would always pressure me to get it. He always told me to be extra and treat yourself! I knew that ever since I was young and saw you flaunting your Burberry scarf!!! 

Uncle Joel, I will always be thinking of you and 
our trip in your city. Give Grandpa Reyes a big 
hug for me!  

I've known Joel since the early 90's thru Andrew Tasch. We were fast friends. He let me stay with him on Corbin Terrace when I hit a rough spot.  He came to my summer home in Leelanau County Michigan several times and completely imbibed the spirit of the place. We were going to retire to Palm Springs. I beat him there and was just waiting for him to follow!. I'm so sad about his passing, but he has  had a rough go of things recently from talking with him. God bless his beautiful soul!

My love, thoughts and prayers to the Reyes Family. I am so saddened by Joel’s passing. I will always remember the Summers sitting on your parents porch and probably laughing and talking way too loudly. Joel will always be in my heart and a big part of my best childhood memories. He was funny ( what an infectious laugh), kind (a beautiful smile)  and Joel had such a gentle soul. So blessed to have called him “friend”. Rest easy Joel, Love you.

I am in such shock and sorrow for my beautiful friend, Joel. 

We met on a plane while moving to Mexico for the summer to study Spanish. We bonded over our cats and how we were going to miss them so much.  We both had pictures of our cats on us and shared them with each other and cracked up that we both had cat pics (pre cell phones!). We became fast friends and spent many years in KC going out for drinks, trying all kinds of restaurants, dancing, singing, traveling Mexico, taking Spanish classes together and studying, shopping, decorating, and lots of other shenanigans.  His laugh was the best. We would crack up so hard all the time. We would get a box of Andre's chocolates and scarf them down in the car because we couldn't wait. Joel was very proud of his Mexican heritage and loved his parents, siblings, and all his family deeply and talked about them all the time. I am so very sad I was not able to see him in KC when he just came back. I hope I will be together with him again one day so we can catch up on lost time and laugh and laugh and laugh like we used to. Te voy a extrañar mucho, mi amigo querido. Te quiero para siempre y siempre serás parte de mi corazón.  Qué descanses en paz. 

Tu amiga 'Valeria' 

Joel was my friend, confidante,  travel companion, and drinking buddy for the past 10 years.   Together we shared many laughs and adventures.   I am truly sorry that he has left us so soon.  Rest in peace my friend.  

What a good friend Joel has been.  I am sad to hear of his passing.   We shared so many times together.  I will remember him always.  Rest in peace sweet Joel.  Till we meet again...hugs and hugs!!


Our group in the 1980’s
Amar, Tom, Joel and Valerie 

Valerie, Joel  and Norma (Valerie’s mom) last year at Grandstreet Restaurant 

I worked with Joel for about nine years at Principal, but I had not talked to him for a while since I left.  I will always remember his sense of humor, and he always speak fondly of his family in Kansas City.  My sincere condolences to all of his family and friends.  Rest in peace and God Bless my friend.



My condolences to the family.  I will always remember Joel as kind person with a sense of humor that could lift the spirits of anyone feeling low. I will miss you my friend. 

Joel was a regular walking/running around the Lake.    

Joel's favorite vendor at the Farmers Market.     

Aimee, Lynn, Sue, Denise & Joel.    Our family at Principal.

Sue Tomidy

Joel was a friend and a brother in tight knit group of co-workers at Principal.   We are forever family.     
 I have so many fond memories of Joel.  What first comes to mind is his smile and magnetic personality.    Joel could walk into a room and people would immediately be drawn to him.   He was sincere, engaging, and cared for people.    Joel would walk into my office early in the morning and say "Coffee Talk".   We both live in Oakland and would talk about what was going on in the "hood" - politics, events, restaurants, and neighborhoods.  He strolled through the neighborhoods; went to the Saturday Grand Lake Farmer's Market; and walked around Lake Merritt.      Joel was a good dancer too.    I would ask him to dance at our conferences and he would never turn me down.         I talked to Joel a few days before he passed.   I realized that saying goodbye was his gift.   Joel taught me about leaving this world with love, grace, gratitude, and dignity.     He will always be in my heart. When I look up at the night sky and see a bright star, I will know that Joel is looking down at all of us and saying "Awesome".     
My sincere condolences to the Reyes Family.  
 Love Sue Tomidy   

I believe this picture was taken in 2013. My Tio Joel always had a smile that was contagious to everyone around him. 

This is a great memory of mine that I would like to share of my Tio Joel’s visit to Kansas City last July. We ate at Rudy’s Tenampa in Westport for his favorite chips and salsa/margaritas before venturing off to Char Bar for desserts. 

Two of my favorite people, I picture them sharing a laugh right now.

Joel and I were just a month apart in age. We were close as young kids and teenagers: even shared our first legal drink together when we turned 21.  My cousin Danny made it and Danny was also Joel’s brother. Rest in peace cousin go spend time with our loved ones in heaven, as you suffer no more. 

X🩵X💜
Leslie

I met my dear friend Joel in 2000 when we both worked at American Century in KC. I lived there from 2000-2003, and we enjoyed gatherings with a tight circle of friends, as well as many happy hours at our favorite local restaurant. I learned that you don’t smell Joel’s food or drink. 

After I moved back to San Diego, and Joel moved to Oakland (where, despite what he felt was his better judgment, he adopted the practice of wearing tennis shoes with jeans!), we visited each other often and shared many adventures in SF, Napa, Sonoma, Carmel, Torrey Pines, La Jolla and even Puerta Vallarta. 

During the month of May, I started texting him a daily photo of us or just him, and in my mind began planning our next adventure for when he got better. 

Joel, thank you for the love and laughter you brought to me and so many others. I’m so grateful for your presence in my life, and will miss you dearly.

To Joel’s family, my deepest sympathies for the loss of your beloved brother, uncle and friend.

With love,
Shana

Our last visit with Joel - November 2021 - Laurie & Michael Liddy

A beautiful day strolling on the west coast with Shana and Joel 

REMEMBERING MY FRIEND JOEL (Part 3 of 3)
When Joel made the move to California, distance didn’t really change our friendship. We shifted to talking, laughing, and telling stories on the phone, with my husband, Michael chiming in. Joel was a great listener who made you feel truly heard. Every call was filled with his genuine care and empathy, and I hung up with a smile the gratification that we had solved all the world’s problems.  A phone call from Joel always made my day.

As we must say goodbye, I am sending prayers of strength and peace to Joel’s family, his sisters and brother whom he treasured more than anything. May you find comfort in his love staying forever in your hearts and knowing he is reunited with his beloved parents.

Dear Joel, thank you for blessing our lives with your contagious laughter, and your loyal friendship, and your laid-back disposition. I’m sad that I won’t be able to see you when I come to CA, but I will forever cherish memories we shared together. 

Rest in peace, dear friend.  May your spirit soar among the heavens, I know you’re up there shopping and dining with Angels. I will miss you more than words can say.  
Your friend, 
Laurie




REMEMBERING MY FRIEND JOEL (Part 2 of 3)
Joel was a culinary connoisseur, a true foodie in every sense of the word—especially when it came to Mexican cuisine. We all benefited from his love for cooking, fine wine, table-top decorating and entertaining. Whenever we wanted to know the best restaurant in town, Joel knew where to go.  I’ll never forget the many summer nights spent with friends on his candle-lit back patio in downtown KC. He brought people together through friendship and laughter.

One of Joel's passions was his love for animals. I loved pet sitting for Jules, Manush, and Alley Cat whenever he embarked on his travels. Another was sports – he could always be found watching a game and rooting for the home team. Although close, none more heartfelt than the Chiefs.

Joel had a strong work ethic. Whether it was his professional endeavors or personal passions, Joel gave his all. He exemplified the spirit of a hard worker winning a couple sales trips with his colleagues that he adored at Principle Financial.  For Joel, people at work were more than colleagues, they were his friends for life.

Joel's loved a good movie or TV series. But his taste in entertainment was not limited to highbrow cinema alone. One of my fondest and funniest memories of Joel was after he had emergency surgery for appendicitis (and was recuperating at home). When I stopped in to walk his dog, I found him tucked into his cozy couch, engrossed in episodes of "The Nanny" and "The Golden Girls." It was a testament to his irrepressible sense of humor and his ability to find joy in the most uncomfortable times. Even in pain while holding his side, Joel was laughing at silly sit coms. 


REMEMBERING MY FRIEND JOEL (Part 1 of 3)
As reflect on the memories I shared with Joel, I remember the joy, laughter, and warmth that he brought to my life. Joel was more than a true friend; he was a positive presence and a cherished, loyal soul who left a mark on many hearts.

While living in Kansas City, Joel and I shared countless memories with our close-knit group of friends. We celebrated birthdays and life’s milestones, hit-the-town outings, and the warmth and tradition of Friendsgiving and many other holidays including “single friends’ Valentine’s Day dinner.” Ordinary days that became extraordinary in his company. His infectious laughter, funny dating stories, and genuine love for life filled every gathering, infusing it with a sense of unity and togetherness. Joel loved his girlfriends and he loved to vacation travel. Wherever he was, he created a sense of belonging, making sure that everyone felt included. Around Joel, friendships thrived and flourished.  

We all know that Joel had an impeccable sense of style and a knack for putting together the perfect wardrobe for any given event. Shopping was more than a necessity; it was an art form. Whether it was browsing through boutiques for clothes or antiques, exploring bookstores for a good read, seeking out the latest kitchen gadgets and tools, or finding the best sales, Joel's enthusiasm for the hunt was contagious. Shopping with Joel was a blast. He had an eye for quality and a flair for individuality, which was reflected in his personal style and the items he surrounded himself with.  


I have wonderful memories of Joel and working together at Worlds of Fun. He is absolutely one of the kindest people. We’ve also shared some old family pictures over the years as we are second cousins. My sympathies to the family.

Joel, Lynn, Justin celebrating at Pam’s wedding. 

Joel left us too soon while leaving a lasting impression on us. Joel was fiercely loyal, compassionate, humorous and fun loving, dedicated to his profession and clients, heartfelt, courageous, and curious about the world; he mastered enjoyment in living every day.  We collected a million memories over the years and I will forever remember his smile and laugh, generous spirit, and wonderful gift of friendship.   My deepest condolences to Joel’s family and friends.  

Joel visiting last July!
I miss you every day😢

True friends are to be cherished in life.   Joel was a wonderful friend to us for the past ten years.  Noel and myself will miss his humor, sense of adventure, and loyal friendship that he showed to both of us.  We will cherish our memories of fun times,  and will miss him terribly but we know that the life he lived,  and the strength he demonstrated during the entire duration of his illness will inspire us forever.  R.I.P dear friend Joel.  

Joel was elegant, professional and sophisticated on the outside, while being a gentle and loving soul on the inside.  As he did on earth, Joel will make heaven a better place.  

Joel and his work sisters, enjoying the outdoors in Kensington, CA., while taking a break from social distancing.  Joel was loved by his work family.  

Joel was part of an award-winning service team for many years.   One of our best memories was an awards trip to Puerto Rico, where he enjoyed the beautiful resort, warm and sunny beaches and socializing with the Principal family.  This particular trip was a reward for winning first place for the highest asset retention, Division 1. This is a reflection of Joel's deep commitment to his clients, advisors and Principal.  He was a great Relationship Manager, and a beloved friend. 

A fond memory of a day in San Diego with the California family.  Joel enjoyed beautiful, warm places, and Stephan treated us to a tour full of lovely views.

Cheers Uncle Joel, Aunt Nana and I had your favorite liquid crack today, in honor of you and your beautiful spirit. Love your niece, Elizabeth xoxo 

Here's Joel at a work team event in Orange County, Southern California in 2018.

Joel was always game for fun and always knew how to look good for  pictures.

Joel and I were buddies during our Worlds of Fun days. We kept in touch, but not as much as we should have. I have the best memories of Joel and I can't think of Worlds of Fun without thinking of him.  I am so saddened to hear of his passing. My sincere condolences to Joel's family. He was so special and always quick with a smile and a laugh. 

A toast to you Joel and your wonderful love and friendship. Save us a seat at your table. ❤️❤️❤️

Joel was the life of the party. We bonded the first day he walked into our office. We shared so many quiet early morning chats in my office. His positive and loving spirit will always be with me. 
My deepest condolences to Joel’s family.


OBITUARY

Arthur Joel Reyes

October 10, 1961 – May 24, 2023

McGilley State Line Chapel

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services