Joseph J. Neuner

Joe died on October 2, 2023 after a brief illness. A life-long resident of the greater Kansas City area, he leaves behind his loving wife, Luanne, three sons, and their spouses, four grandchildren and a lifetime of friends.

He was graduated from Rockhurst H.S. and subsequently the University of Oklahoma in 1955. A proud veteran, he served his country in the United States Air force for 17+ years, combined service as a navigator, retiring as a Captain.

He joined the CPA firm of Arthur Andersen & Co. on his release from active duty. After earning his CPA Certificate, he served as CFO of a nationally known plastics company. In 1963 he joined the local brokerage firm, H.O. Peet and Company where he became a partner in the early 1970s. During that time, Joe was widely known for his live radio broadcasts of stock market news, author of investment articles for The Kansas City Business Journal, and as a teacher of investments to the public in various seminars and schools. He was a member of the NASD, and served on subcommittees of the business conduct committee, and on the board of the Southwest Region of the Securities Industry Assn. At one time he held every license then issued by the NYSE.

Joe co-founded Smart, Moreland and Neuner in 1979, an independently owned investment firm, which merged with Business Men’s Assurance in late 1984. Joe served as Director, CFO, and President of BMA Financial Services, as it was renamed in the late 1980’s, until he retired from the investment business, after nearly 40 years.

Joe’s passion in life was his five children, teaching them and others ethics, athletics and sportsmanship. He coached youth football and baseball for a combined 16 years, coaching boys to championships, but above all, teaching them sportsmanship. He was active in Kansas City swimming for over 25 years, and was championship meet announcer for the KC Country Club Swim Association, which awarded him the Testimony of Recognition for service to competitive swimming in 1981.

He was a member of the KC Chiefs Booster Club, a red-coater, and as he said, “won his red coat when you couldn’t give Chiefs tickets away” in the 1960s. He helped found the 101 Banquets with his mentor, the late Jack Wheeler, and served as a 101 sponsor and working committee member for over 20 years.

Joe’s sports passion was golf, and he was very active in the local golf world. He chaired invitational tournaments for multiple years at both Mission Hills CC and Shadow Glen Golf Club. He and his partner won the Senior Kansas State 4-ball championship for their age group in the 1990’s. In his later years he served as a board member of the Senior Golf Association of Kansas City, serving as president in 2005-6. He began play at age 6, and recorded his first of two aces in 2001. He volunteered as a Marshal at five USGA Open tournaments, primarily in Colorado in recent years, giving back to a sport he had loved all his life.

Civically, Joe was very active as well. He served as Cub Master of the largest pack in the BSA Kaw council. At the American Royal Association, he served as head of division 1 of the Parade for more than 10 years, and was Quarter Horse Show ring announcer for 18 years. He also served on many Royal committees. Joe is a former member of Saddle and Sirloin Club, serving again on many committees, as well as a board member.

He was active in the Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter, his beloved fraternity, served as its VP, Treasurer and President in the 1970s, and again in recent years as treasurer. In 2022, he was inducted into the Order of Constantine, the fraternity’s highest honor, for life-long service to the fraternity. He served on the Leawood City Parks and Recreation Board for 6 years, and was active in the procurement of the land used for the present park and the swimming-sports complex at I-435 and Lee Blvd.

With a strong courage of his convictions, Joe was a prolific writer of Conservative articles, and letters to the editor, and was published in the Kansas City Star, as well as The Desert Sun in Indian Wells, CA, where he owned a winter home.

Joe was active in the parish of Curé of Ars in Leawood, and shared his mellow baritone voice as a lector there.

Joe was predeceased by his parents, Gerard and Alys Neuner, his sister Camille Gudger, his brother James, as well as his beloved son Joseph Jr (Jay) in 1977, his daughter Jan in 2008, and Luanne’s beloved daughter, Andrea Loupee in 1988, whom he loved as a second daughter.

He is survived by his wonderful wife, Luanne, sons and daughters-in-law Jerry and Karri Neuner of Colorado Springs, CO, Steve and Suzanne Neuner of Lee’s Summit, MO and Richard and Sol Neuner of Waldorf, Maryland, and also 4 grandchildren he loved very much, Shannon, Eric, Kyle, and Kinsey Neuner.

Visitation is at 10:00am with a Memorial Mass at 11:00am on October 20, 2023 in Curé of Ars Catholic Church in Leawood. A reception at the church will follow.