Obituary
Donald Jochim Sr., 93, passed away surrounded by his family Tuesday, March 28, 2023, after a battle with cancer. He was born on October 18, 1929, in Beulah, ND, to Notze & Eva Jochim. He was one of eight children. He was baptized at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Beulah, ND, on November 11, 1929, and remained a devout Catholic his entire life.
He met the love of his life, Norma, in the fall of 1950 in Greensboro, NC, while stationed at Fort Bragg with the 82nd Airborne Division. They were married January 31, 1952, in Fort Bragg, NC, and to their union were born three children.
Don was a man of faith, attending church regularly up until his health no longer allowed. He attended Nashville Auto and Diesel School in Nashville, TN, and Mid-Continent Aviation in Kansas City, MO. He worked for 4 years at an International Truck Dealership in Greensboro, NC. Once he had some experience his brother-in-law in Kansas City offered him a job working on cars so the family of five made the move from Thomasville, NC, to Kansas City, MO. After working for his brother-in-law for a year and a half he was hired by Schlozman Ford in 1962, which later became Bob Allen Ford where he retired in 1992. Retirement allowed more time for his hobbies of woodworking, gardening, and traveling. One of their most memorable trips they took twice was a tour of the Holy Land. Don enjoyed making a variety of items for family and friends. He could be found building or working on things in his shop and listening to county music. He also spent time keeping his children and grandchildren’s cars running as the family mechanic.
He was a wonderful husband, Dad, Grandad, Great Grandad, Great-Great Grandad, kind, humble, and generous man.
Don is preceded in death by his parents Ignatius (Notze) & Eva; siblings; Ed, Lucille, Clara, Ray, Elaine, and John; granddaughter, Jessica; and great-grandson, Alek.
Don is survived by his loving wife, Norma, of 71 years; sister Bernice; children; Karen, Donald Jr. (Deb), Lisa (George); grandchildren; Michelle, Adam (Jon), Carrie (Steven), Alecia (Matt), Kara (BJ), Sara (Aaron), Brent, & Nathan (Kathleen); twelve great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; a large extended family and friends.
Donations can be made in Don’s name to the American Cancer Society.
Visitation will be Monday, April 3, 2023 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at Langsford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3rd Street, Lee’s Summit, MO 64083. A funeral mass will be held at St. Sabina’s Catholic Church, 700 Trevis Ave, Belton, MO 64012 starting at 11:00AM on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, followed by interment at Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery.
The family wished to thank the wonderful caregivers from VNA Hospice allowing Don to be cared for at his home.
Condolences
Visitation
Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Services
Belton, MO 64012
GRANDdad~
I love you so much and miss you already. Thank you for always being there for me and the kids, through good and bad. Thank you for always setting a shining example for us to follow and giving a “kick in the butt” when needed.
Rest well.
Give Alek a big, long hug and tell him how much we miss him.
I love you, forever and always. 💙
I hope that in time the sadness will be replaced by so many wonderful memories.
Sending all my love and condolences to the Jochim family and everyone who loved Don.
Truly deepest sympathies go out to the family. Michelle and Kela we love you and are here for you. May God’s word give you comfort that your granddad is in heaven and at peace. I’m sure that he and Alek are joking around up there! May you have peace and comfort knowing they are together. Love you my friends.
Dearest Karen, our deepest sympathy in the loss of your dad, he was a lovely man, may he rest in peace forever in the beautiful Garden of Eden forever! Please send your mom and family all our hugs and love and prayers for strength to remember all the good times and blessings of life. All our love to you. David and Mimi
Dad-
I miss you so much already, miss your voice, you were the best dad!
You and mom have always been such a sterling example for the entire family in how to be a good person and treat our fellow man.
Love you forever and always
Karen
Grandad you are already missed so much, your wisdom, wit, humor, advice and so much more. Jon and I always loved talking about everything from school buses to Jon’s engineering jobs. We will do our best to take care of Grandmother and help with anything she needs. Thank you for always being such a stellar example of what being a good husband and good man was. Those are lessons we will continue to carry with us throughout our lives. We love you forever and always.