Joe Allen Herring

Joe Allen Herring, beloved husband, son, father, grandfather, and friend to many passed away October 6, 2023 after a long and tough battle with lung disease. Joe III (as he was known at first) was born January 27, 1942 in Parson’s, Kansas to Joe Hammon Allen and Genevieve Virginia (Lewis) Allen just 2 months after his father, a dental officer in the Army Medical Corps, was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines, survived the Bataan Death March, held prisoner for almost 4 years and died at sea in September 1944, along with 750 fellow prisoners who were being transported on a unmarked ship back to Japan for slave labor that was torpedoed by American aircraft.

When Joe was 4 years old Virginia met and later married Carl E. Herring who had returned from the war and Carl adopted little “Joe-Joe” as he affectionately called him. Carl was an incredible and loving father who made sure Joe always knew he was a much loved, valued and cherished son. Joe graduated from Parsons High School in 1960 where he excelled in baseball and football. He then earned his BA in Economics from Kansas University in 1964 where he was a proud member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity followed by an MBA degree also from KU in 1966. After graduation he began a long and distinguished career in banking with positions at some of the area’s major banking institutions and ending as President of First National Bank of Lee’s Summit, MO. Not content with “retirement” he then earned certification to become a Real Estate Appraiser and worked independently for several years in both Kansas and Missouri.

Throughout his life Joe had many interests and passions and pursued each one to a high level of expertise. He was an amazing “gourmet” cook, an expert on wines (especially zinfandels), a talented photographer, an outstanding furniture maker and wood turner (our home is filled with his gorgeous, finely crafted pieces of furniture and bowls), a giant fan of country music (especially the really old country music that he listened to on the radio at night under the covers after his parents were sleep), a flower and vegetable gardener extraordinaire, and more than a little “wild and crazy” about fishing for walleye, Northern pike, and crappie on Lake of the Woods in NW Ontario, Canada where he and Norma, his wife of 31 years, had a lovely summer home for twenty years. When family and friends came to visit they were treated to Joe’s specialty dish of fresh caught walleye pan fried and served with a classic bearnaise sauce that was mouth watering and positively heavenly! Joe was a good and kind man who lived his life fully and appreciated, enjoyed and loved all his family, many friends and his 3 “golden” girls.

He was amazed and grateful that he was able to enjoy “many extra innings” after surviving non-small cell lung cancer in 2007-2008 when the survival rate was only 9 percent. He was at peace about the end of his life and made a promise to me…. “I’ll walk just beyond the moon and then I’ll stop and wait for you”. These beautiful lyrics are from the country song Just Beyond the Moon sung by Tex Ritter and hopefully will help all of us who loved him deal with our grief. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Hammon Allen, Genevieve Virginia (Allen) Herring and Carl E. Herring, his second dad. He is survived by his wife Norma; daughters Janet (Andrew) and Susan (Jon); stepchildren Brian and Melissa; grandchildren; Ashley (Dan), Maddie, Andy, Kellan, Marin; and stepgrandchildren; Justin, Caden.

A Celebration of Joe’s life will be held at his home on Sunday Nov. 5 from 2-5 PM. Please come, share a Champagne Toast and see his beautifully crafted wood creations which are a wonderful testament to the “talented artist” he truly was in so many ways. Memorials: Please make a donation in Joe’s memory to the charity of your choice, www.loveagolden.com, Wayside Waifs, Kansas City Hospice (who gave Joe the most wonderful care and support) or plant something beautiful in your garden!

Lyrics: Just Beyond the Moon Songwriter: Jeremy Slate

I’ll walk just beyond the moon and then I’ll stop and wait for you My mother and my father were in love for 50 years So when dad died, we wondered why my mother shed no tears We asked her once about it, but she wouldn’t tell us why Instead, she’d walk outside each night and smile up at the sky Then just before she left us she called us to her side She told us what my father said to her just before he died I remember when you said you’d never leave me Through these golden years I’ve kept the same vow too But now that I am going please don’t leave me I’ll walk just beyond the moon then I’ll stop and wait for you You can look up every night and you’ll see me light the light Where I’ll watch for you to join me someday soon We’ll go lookin’ through the stars for the heaven that is ours And I know we’ll find it soon somewhere just beyond the moon I’ll walk just beyond the moon then I’ll stop and wait for you I’ll just sit there by a star and I’ll watch you from afar ’Til I see you walking toward me someday soon Then together hand in hand we’ll find our promised land And we’ll settle down forever darlin’ just beyond the moon I’ll walk just beyond the moon then I’ll stop and wait for you