Joel Llorente, age 71, of Overland Park, KS passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Visitation will be held at the McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66204, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm; followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 pm at the chapel.
Joel was born on April 4, 1955 in Sioux Falls, SD, to Jack and Edna Llorente. He spent his childhood fixing things, playing with his siblings and many cousins, and tormenting the Sioux Falls Police Department by drag racing bikes with his friends. His family moved to Kansas City in 1968, where he attended Southwest High School. His father passed away in 1971, and as the youngest child and the only one still living at home, he and his mother became very close. They remained that way for the rest of her life.
In 1976, he met Jeanne Andreas. He wasn’t yet 21, so she offered to buy the beer for him and his friends since she was a few months older. Those who knew them well know how fitting it is that this was their origin story. They married in 1977 and were inseparable until her passing in 2022. She loved his curls and his legs — he loved her… everything.
They had two daughters, Jeremie and Jessica, who were the lights of his life. He would never take a job that wouldn’t let him go in early so he could be home by 4 o’clock, because he wanted to experience every part of their lives. He was a doting father, their biggest supporter, and their closest friend.
Joel spent most of his adult life fixing things, both professionally and recreationally. He was an HVAC specialist but could basically put anything back together. He was the guy you called when you needed a hand. He was happy to show up, always with a smile on his face, and with the cheapest solution there was.
He built his first car at 13 from broken old parts, and he made his parents tow it behind them when they moved to KC. He used to say they looked like the Clampetts driving down the highway. At one point, there were four lawn mowers in his shed because he found them or was given them when they weren’t working, got them running, and then had one that was good for any occasion. He adopted his brother-in-law’s project car, a 1968 Chevelle, when it was nearly abandoned and slowly brought it back to life, eventually cutting out the ceiling in the garage to make room for a hydraulic lift to store it. He loved to work with his hands, the quarter-mile racetrack, and the sound of an engine.
Joel collected friends everywhere he went. His easygoing personality made people feel comfortable right away. He started conversations with strangers, loved an adventure (especially if it included ice cream), and cultivated friendships that lasted for decades. His doorbell and phone rang nonstop with calls from old friends. His house was always full, and it became a landing place for anyone who needed a little extra kindness, a listening ear, or simply somewhere to feel welcome. And he wouldn’t let you leave without topping off your tires with air.
He loved animals, and even though he claimed the girls brought them home and he had no say in it, he adored his constant houseful of pets. He was warm, open, and someone people knew they could count on. He will be terribly missed.
He is survived by his daughter, Jeremie Tharp (Andrew) of Overland Park, KS; daughter, Jessica Wiech (Erik) of Underwood, IA; stepson, John Whitaker (Kim) of Crown Point, IN; sisters, Ina Griffin of Lowell, MI, and Julie Llorente of Kansas City; and grandchildren, Addison Tharp, Cooper Tharp, Paxton Becker, Hadley Becker, Phoenix Becker, Stella Wiech, Alexandra Wiech, Penelope Wiech, Olivia Whitaker, Nicholas Whitaker, and Sydney Whitaker.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne Llorente; mother, Edna Llorente; father, John Joseph Llorente; and brother, Johnnie Lee Llorente.
