Joann Barnett

Joann Barnett, 92, of Garden City, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family on December 9, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Dorothy, her sister Maxine, her children Andy and Wendy, and her husband, Harold “Hank” Barnett. Surviving are her children Mike, Pat, Karen (Johnny), David (Chris), Debbie, Paul and John; grandchildren, Misty (John), Jake, Luke (Tiffany), Carly (Dustin), Jack, Kelsee (Austin), Sara, Danny (Sam), Ali and Ryan; great-grandchildren Addi, Dray, Dax, Smith, LJ, Charlee, Paislee, Houston, Dawson and Hank.

Joann was born June 26, 1930, and graduated from Southeast High School, KCMO, where she met and later married Hank Barnett on December 31, 1949. They remained married for 68 years.

While Hank was in the army serving in Korea, she went to work as a reservations agent for TWA. Upon his return they started a family, and she was a stay-at-home mom for several years until her older kids went to work at the Hi-Ho Dari-O and convinced their parents to purchase the place. During her time as co-owner and manager, she and all her children became involved with the POW/MIA movement during the Vietnam war.

After the family sold the restaurant, Joann went to work for a series of doctors and surgeons in the KC Area until her retirement in 1992. She continued to work part time while volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in KC and participated in a bowling league and book club.

From the time her son Mike started playing baseball in grade school, up until a couple of years ago, she was a devoted attendee of any and all sports events involving a child, grandchild or great-grandchild, no matter where they took place. After watching many college baseball games coached by her grandson Luke, she was thrilled to attend the College World Series at the age of 83 with Karen, John, and Jack.

Her friends and family will remember her for her generosity and kindness, particularly towards dogs and children, and her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids for her remarkable ability to make each of them feel uniquely special. The stories they tell range from the many trips in a series of crowded station wagons to the zoo, Starlight Theater, and last-minute school shopping, to building puzzles and riding a school bus to her 80^th birthday party at a KC T-Bones game.

The Barnett family would like to thank One Community Hospice and the staff at Crown Care Center and Jerald Dickey for his expertise and generosity.

A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held Saturday, December 17, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House or the Garden City Library and may be sent in care of Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701.