Joan Lodde McGee

JOAN LODDE MCGEE 1933-2024 

Joan Lodde McGee died on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the age of 90, surrounded by her 3 children. The second of two daughters, Joan, was born on June 1, 1933, to Ruth and Francis Lodde and is survived by her sister Ruth Ann Jenkins. She was a lifelong resident of Kansas City, Missouri, in the Brookside/Plaza area. Joan was a member of Visitation Catholic Church for her entire life and was proud to receive all the sacraments there.  

She attended Visitation Grade School, St. Teresa’s Academy and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education from the University of Kansas where she pledged Chi Omega. She later served as President of the Chi Omega corporation board. Joan also served on the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center’s building committee and board of directors with Monsignor Vince Krische. 

After college Joan taught art in the Shawnee Mission School District. She later served as President of the Alumni Board at St. Teresa’s, and for many years was her Class representative, hosting yearly reunion luncheons for her classmates. She was proud to serve on the committee for the celebration of STA’s 100th Anniversary. 

On April 14, 1956, Joan married Thomas R. McGee, who caught her eye in grade school while he served as an altar boy at Visitation Church. They were married for 47 years and raised four children: Susan McGee, Tom Jr. (Jill), Sarah Jury (Ron). Cathy Scheurer (Hugh) the oldest, died unexpectedly in 2004. 

Joan is also survived by ten grandchildren, Tommy Scheurer, Paul Scheurer (Kat), Rick Scheurer (Megan), Ron Jury, Jr. (Krysten), Christopher Jury, Kevin Jury (Grace), Jennifer VanLandingham (Ben), Michael McGee (Kali), Patrick McGee (Paige), Jackie McGee and numerous great grandchildren. Joan loved being a wife and mother, including the joys and challenges that came along with it. Joan had a curious mind. She inspired her children and grandchildren to pursue their education and become “all that God intended you to be”.

After the death of Tom McGee, she married Byron Thompson in 2005. They had the benefit of 10 wonderful years together. Through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, Byron lived for eight years after a cancer diagnosis. He died in 2015.

Joan had a mind’s eye to imagine beautiful things and the hands to create them. Tom frequently said “Joan, you see things others don’t see”. While raising her 4 children Joan co-owned “In Stitches”, a needle point shop on the Country Club Plaza. 

Later she became a certified master gardener and adorned the garden of the home she lived in with Tom and her children on 57th Terrace. She loved to needlepoint and in recent years, as arthritis restricted the use of her hands, she knitted scarves for friends and receiving blankets for her great grandchildren. 

She was a remarkable woman whose life was a tapestry woven with passion, faith, and a keen appreciation for the finer things including antiques, jewelry, and designer clothing. From the nightly ritual of hair curlers since the age of 5 to her collection of antiques and religious artifacts, she embraced each moment with elegance and beauty.

Devoted to her Catholic faith, in 1990 Joan was inducted into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and later received the title of Dame Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre. She and her husband, Tom, served as area Councillors. For her dedicated service Joan was awarded the Silver Palm of Jerusalem by the Jerusalem Latin Patriarch. She relied on the strengths of prayer to the saints and martyrs and encouraged us all with “Ask for a saint’s help and you will get through the difficult times”.  Joan had a deep respect for history and joy for what the future would hold.

Sometimes feisty and always outspoken, Joan never shied away from expressing her thoughts, firmly declaring, "I may have a lot of faults, but being wrong is not one of them." A formidable presence, she fearlessly dished out criticism with honesty, yet equally welcomed it in return. Joan was an avid reader and follower of political and business events through daily reading of the Kansas City Star and the Wall Street Journal which she developed as the loving wife of Tom and Bryron, both men of finance.

Joan enjoyed her 68 years at Mission Hills Country Club. In her years as a widow, weekly bridge games at the Club added a spark to her social life and fueled her competitive spirit. She also enjoyed cheering on her local sports teams the Kansas City Chiefs, the Royals, and the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.

In celebrating Joan’s life, we cherish the legacy of a woman who lived authentically, loved deeply, and stood true to herself and her beliefs. She will be dearly missed and forever remembered for the indelible mark she left on our hearts.

The funeral will be at Visitation Church 5141 Main St., Kansas City, MO on Thursday, February 29th. The Rosary will be prayed at 10 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Please no flowers. Memorial donations can be made to: 

•    St. Teresa’s Academy (Joan McGee Scholarship Fund), 5600 Main St. Kansas City, MO 64113 https://stteresasacademy.org/giving/

•    The St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, 1631 Crescent Road, Lawrence, KS 66044 https://kucatholic.org/givenow