John was born in Independence, Missouri the son of Maurice and Mildred Vesta (Fisher) Van Maele. He married Candace (Candy) Tittel on May 31,1967 in Liberty, Missouri. During his married life he lived in Independence, Kansas City, Raytown, Excelsior Springs, and Grandview, Missouri, and Olathe and Spring Hill, Kansas. John moved to Grain Valley in 2004.
He graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1962. John started out working at Risinger Gardens, went to National Meat Packing and then GM BOP (General Motors Buick-Oldsmobile-Pontiac) Fairfax where he built excitement from 1969-1999. His interests were autos, especially his yellow 1950 Studebaker Pickup, the Lake of the Ozarks for 32 years, people, partying, music, MIZZOU and local sports teams. He did not know a stranger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Mildred (Fisher) Van Maele, daughter, Brandy Sue in 1985, brothers Rodney and Ronnie, sisters Sharon and Freda and Freda’s husband Everett.
He is survived by his loving wife Candy, two brothers, Maurice, and Robert (Patti) and six sisters, Valeria Morton, Mary Bellamy (Roy), Janet Miller (Harold), Margaret Rush (Don), Judith Spake (Larry), and Patty Freedle and brother in law, Glen Woodcock, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
"Tell ya a little secret... What's the bottom line."
Family viewing will be from 12:30 to 1:00 pm on Thursday June 5th, 2025 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. His casket will be closed at the start of the public visitation with refreshments from 1:00 -2:00 pm. A Celebration of life will start at 2:00 pm at the funeral home with burial at Mt. Moriah Cemetery following the Celebration.
Contributions may be made to a charity of your choice, preference is for Parkinson's, MIZZOU or William Chrisman.
