Obituary

Joseph “Joe” Franklin Stanley, Sr., 89, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed away September 14, 2025, in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life during the visitation on Saturday September 27^th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Langsford Funeral Home located at 115 SW 3^rd St, Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The service will start at 11:00 AM with burial immediately following the service at Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery.

Joe was born at home on May 28,1936 in Kansas City, Missouri, son of Anna Donnelly and John Stanley.

He was raised in the Kansas City area and is the youngest of seven children. At the age of 19, he joined the United States Navy and served from 1955-1959 on the USS Hunt DD-674. Joe traveled all over the world, but his favorite place was France.

After completing his service in the Navy, Joe worked for General Motors for 25 years and retired in 1991. He met his future wife, Peggy, through a mutual friend in 1968 and they began dating. They were married on February 15,1969 for 52 years. Joe and Peggy enjoyed dancing and spending time with friends and their families. Joe deeply loved his siblings, children, and most of all the love of his life, his wife Peggy.

Joe was funny and silly, making goofy faces to encourage you to laugh. He enjoyed country western music, hunting, spending time at the lake, football (the KC Chiefs), cars (especially loved his red corvette), attending high school athletic games for his kids, and later MU football games when his son made the college football team. He was the president of the Ruskin High School football booster club when his son played. He enjoyed working on the family cars, playing cards, and going to the drive-in movies.

Joe and Peggy’s first home was in Kansas City and later they moved to their final home in Grandview, Missouri. Eventually they moved to a Lee’s Summit retirement villa to be closer to family. In September 2023, Joe made the VA Home in Warrensburg, Missouri his home. He is now at peace in the arms of Jesus and waiting for him is his soulmate, Peggy.

Joe is survived by his daughters, Shawn Stanley, Molly Stanley of Kansas City, Missouri, Penny Lines and Dennis of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and son Joe Stanley Jr. and fiancée, Michelle Cartier and her children of St. Peters, Missouri. He is also survived by grandchildren Hanna Gipfert and husband, Jared, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Blake Lines and wife, Amber, of Lake Lotawana, Missouri, and great granddaughter, Camille Lines; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and their spouses and children.

Joe was proceeded in death by his wife, Peggy 2021, parents, John and Anna Stanley, and siblings Mary, John, Pat, Ella Mae, Annabelle, and Gene.

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 of him as living

in the hearts of those he touched,

for nothing loved is ever lost

and he was loved so much.