Joseph James DeGhelder

Joseph James DeGhelder went home to be with our Lord on March 4, 2015. Joe was born January 6, 1944 in Kansas City, MO to James O. and Mary Ann (Svetlecic) DeGhelder. He grew up in the East Bottoms of Kansas City, MO & attended St. Frances Seraph grade school until 1956 when his family moved to Gladstone, MO where he attended St. Charles grade school. Joe went on to attend St Pius X High School, graduating in 1962. At St Pius, he took part in many activities but enjoyed sports most of all, especially football and in 1960 & 61 he was selected for the Kansas City Catholic League All Stars first team. Friendships built during the years at St. Pius remained dear to him throughout his life. After high school, he attended the Kansas City Junior College until Jan. of 1963 when he enlisted in the US Navy. After basic training in San Diego, he went on for training as an electrician’s mate at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. He was stationed for a short time in Connecticut and was eventually based out of Norfolk, VA. His ship, the USS Chilton, made several Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises carrying Marines to various ports around the world. He often spoke of being in the Caribbean during the Dominican Republic Crisis and other memorable events of the Vietnam era. His Mediterranean cruises took him to Italy, Greece, Spain and beautiful ports which he spoke of fondly, leaving him with wonderful memories of his time serving his country. In 1967 he received an honorable discharge and returned home to Kansas City where he worked briefly for AT&T and again attended Junior College. In 1968 Joe met the love of his life, Susie Engebretsen. They were married January 4, 1969 and made their home in Gladstone where they lived for thirty years. Joe and Susie raised three sons: Christopher, Andrew and Ryan. Their years together as a family were filled with wonderful times travelling, playing baseball and football, going to Chiefs games and working together in the family business Boomers’ Pizza. In 1979 he graduated from the University of MO/Kansas City, earning a degree in Business Administration. During his career Joe worked for Whitaker Cable, Dart Truck, Continental Disc and Cook Paint. As an entrepreneur he started his own pizza restaurant, Boomers’ Pizza, which he & the family owned & ran for five years. Toward the end of his career he worked in car business & at the time of his death was working for the Internal Revenue Service as a tax examiner. At each place of employment he made numerous cherished friends. For fifteen years Joe and his family have attended the Vineyard Church in Kansas City North. It was here he came to a newfound and deep faith in the saving grace of our Lord. The friendships he built at the Vineyard & his deep faith in God sustained him in his final months before God called him home.