John Joseph Brownfield, age 74, of Raymore, Mo., passed away on Sunday, August 15, 2021.
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 19, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lee’s Summit, where visitation begins at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow at noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Holy Spirit Catholic Church in memory of John.
Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., in Raymore is in charge of the arrangements.
John was born May 17, 1947, in Boonville, MO to Marion (Sammy) and Isabel (Gerke) Brownfield. He graduated from Pilot Grove High School in the class of 1965. He married Alice Rentel in 1967 and they were married for 54 years. He and Alice graduated High School in the same class and were very good friends, dating off and on throughout school. Immediately after graduating from High School John went to Moler Barber College in Kansas City. He graduated the same year and began his internship in Kansas City. John and Alice stayed in the Kansas City area for their entire marriage. They raised three exceptional sons.
His favorite things were golfing with his buddies, working around the house, making things for his grandchildren, traveling with Alice, and especially spending time with his family. John also loved to share his time and talents with the church and the Knights of Columbus. He was very proud to be Grand Knight for a couple of terms. He was also a member of the church’s Building and Grounds Committee and dedicated a lot of time and effort to those organizations.
After standing on his feet walking around his barber chair for 35 years, John’s feet and back began to cause him a lot of trouble. Their first grandchild was on the way so John & Alice decided that he would make the perfect babysitter. And he turned out to be just that. After Alice retired, they spent their time enjoying life together, spending many hours on the golf course and vacationing during the winter in places much warmer than Missouri. They especially enjoyed time with their grandchildren as often as they could.
This leisurely life was cut short by many illnesses sustained by both John and Alice. After John’s heart attack and lung transplant and Alice’s cancer and Parkinson’s diagnosis they tried to return to an active life but only partially made it. It was a struggle for both of them.
John was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Connie Zeller (Joe) Tampa, FL.
Survivors include his sons:
• Chris Brownfield, Lee’s Summit, MO | Wife: Janelle | Children: Madison and Jack
• Jeff Brownfield, Paducah, KY |Wife: Arris |Children: Edward, Hope, and McKenna | Grandson: Ethan
• Greg Brownfield, Overland Park, KS | Wife: Lori | Children: Sadie, Audrey, and Griffin
…and his brothers & sisters:
• Ralph Brownfield (Nancy), Elkgrove Village, IL
• Marvin Brownfield (Kathy), Sedalia, MO
• Carol Schibi (Jim), Sedalia, MO
• Henry Brownfield (Paula), Powderly, TX
• Paul Brownfield (Cynthia), Columbia, MO.