Joseph Bennett Brown

July 5, 1942 - July 1, 2014

Joseph Bennett Brown, 71, of Mission, KS, passed away Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 11:00am Wednesday, July 2, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO with burial to follow at Sheffield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Myasthenia Gravis, Ohev Sholom Synagogue or Wayside Waifs. Joseph was born in Jefferson City, MO, the son of Alvin and Anne (Tonkin) Brown, moving to the Kansas City area as a young child. He attended Kansas City Schools, graduating from Paseo High School. Joseph received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Central Missouri and the University of Missouri – Kansas City. He taught for 35 years in the Kansas City, KS public school district, served 8 years as a student teacher supervisor and also as an adjunct instructor at the UMKC School of Education. To Joseph, family and his grandchildren were the focus of his life. He loved to have family cookouts on Sundays and Thursday night Sushi. Joseph also looked forward to regular dinners with his long time circle of friends. He was an avid sports fan, especially for the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago Cubs. Joseph loved his animals, his beloved “Dixie” and feeding his wildlife in the approximately 40 feeders that are in the backyard. He will be greatly missed by all his loving family and his many lifelong friends. Joseph was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Rita Brown, of the home; son and daughter-in-law: Heath and Gina Brown, Overland Park, KS; daughter: Ericka Cooper, Lenexa, KS; sister: Sharon Klugman, Lake of the Ozarks, MO; his grandchildren: Haille Cooper and Adrian Brown and his beloved 4 legged friend, “Dixie”. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.