Joe Mintner

Joseph Rolin Mintner, Jr. of Higginsville, Missouri passed away on the afternoon of June 1, 2024. Joe was born on February 15, 1946 to Joseph Rolin Mintner, Sr. and Eugenia (Dorothy) Mintner in St. Louis, Missouri. Joe attended Bishop Lillis High School (Kansas City, MO), where he played football for his father, leading to an opportunity for him to continue his academic and athletic career at Kansas State University. He graduated from Kansas State with both bachelor's and master's degrees, and chose his vocation as a teacher and coach. This formative time in his life gave him the opportunity to be many things to people throughout his life. Joe started his career in Weston, Missouri, as a teacher and coach for West Platte High School. While he was living in Weston, Joe met the love of his life, Julie. They were married on November 17, 1973, several weeks before Joe’s West Platte Blue Jays would compete in the Football State Championship at Arrowhead Stadium. Joe and Julie would spend the early years of their marriage in Manhattan, Kansas (while he was a graduate assistant coach for the Kansas State football team) and Belton, Missouri (as a teacher and coach at Belton High School), before moving to Bonner Springs, Kansas (where he coached and taught at Bonner Springs High School). Later, Joe would work at East High School in the Kansas City Missouri School District and at St. Mary’s High School in Independence as an Administrator. Joe and Julie later moved to Higginsville, Missouri where he served as the high school principal from the fall of 1997 to the end of the school year in 2009. Joe loved his work as a coach, teacher, administrator, and mentor. He tried to make each ‘team’ he was part of better. Joe and his wife, Julie were married over 50 years. He loved his wife and they worked together as a wonderful team throughout their married lives. Joe and Julie have three children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Joe loved being a Dad to his children and Papa to his grandchildren. He was invested in his children’s lives, and he was proud to see his grandchildren grow into the people they are today. Phrases like “you do the right thing because it is the right thing” and “the most important thing is the most important thing” were said so frequently and with such conviction that they became how his family wanted to live their lives. Because Joe’s life always involved a connection to the schools where Joe coached, taught, or worked as a school administrator, there are many people that Joe was proud to call family members - students, teachers, coaches, and friends that he supported, loved, and cared for throughout their lives. He dedicated his life to helping other people (especially young people and teachers) reach their potential. Joe was proud to serve his country in the Coast Guard Reserves for 26 years, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 2005. He loved his country and the ways he was able to serve it through the Coast Guard throughout his life. Joe was many things to so many people; he was a committed husband, loving father, and proud Papa. He was an educator and mentor. He was a man of God and felt connected to his Christian faith through the Catholic Church. He was a proud K-State Wildcat wherever he went, and particularly enjoyed the opportunities he had to be recognized as a former player through the K-State Athletics Golden Cats program. His family is filled with grief experiencing his passing, but rests thankful that his life of service ended up being a wonderful example for so many beyond just his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe, Sr. and Dorothy. He is survived by his wife, Julie of the home; his children, Patrick Mintner (Dana) of Abilene, Kansas, Annie Doak (Dale) of Lexington, Missouri, and Paul Mintner of Higginsville, Missouri; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Morgan (Andrew) and Brilynn Doak of Wellington, Missouri, Dylon, Karlee, and Dale Doak, Jr. of Lexington, Missouri, Bryce Strickland (Bryce) and Silas Ragatz of Topeka, Kansas, Blayke and Brodyee Mintner of Abilene, Kansas. A visitation will be held on Monday, June 10, 2024 at Stewart-Hoefer Funeral Home, 1600 Main St. Higginsville from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 401 W. Broadway Higginsville. A committal service with military honors will follow in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville. In lieu of flowers, suggested memorials can be made to the Kansas State University Foundation in support of the College of Education (Joseph R. Mintner, Jr. Memorial Fund) or the University of Kansas Endowment in Support of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research.

Joe Mintner

February 15, 1946 - June 1, 2024