Joseph Richard Fleming

Born June 12, 1947, Joseph Richard Fleming, Jr’s 65 years of love-filled life were painted with a gregarious, humorous, proud and loving brush. The first son of eight children produced by Joe and Dolores Fleming, Joe’s participation in a gigantic Irish Catholic family a source of tremendous joy. His 50 first cousins ensured there was never a stranger anywhere he went.

Married to the love of his life Mary Beth for 43 years, they had an amazing time raising three sons J.R., Kevin , Brian. Joe loved being a Dad more than anything, leading St. Elizabeth’s Cub Scouts Troop 150 and running the Father’s Club at Rockhurst High School, where he was also a graduate in 1965. His six granddaughters and one grandson engaged an ecstatic love that truly lit up his being. Of all the titles of his life, Grandpa was the one he loved the most.

A love of literature and writing produced an English degree from Northwest Missouri State. Joe taught journalism, literature and writing at Shawnee Mission South. He took a 30-year hiatus from the classroom selling yearbooks for Intercollegiate Press, and printing for Spangler. It was with tremendous joy that he returned to service in Jesuit Education having worked the last 17 years at Rockhurst High School.

He loved photography and adventure, traveling to London, Turkey, China, and America’s treasured parks and wine regions.

Joe is proceeded in death by his father Joe Fleming I, and survived by his Mother Dolores Fleming, wife Mary Beth, J.R. Fleming, Liana Taylor and Delilah, of the Bay Area, Kevin and Stacie (Wilkening) Fleming and Finley, Avery, and Declan of Kansas City, Brian and Anna (Vitale) Fleming and Mary Jane, Rose and Annie of Kansas City.

A visitation at St. Peter’s will precede a funeral mass on Monday, March 25. Visitors are welcome from 9-11am, funeral mass at 11:30-12:30 followed by a lunch at St. Peter’s. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to St. Peters or St. Elizabeth’s School.