The service will be livestreamed using this link: https://www.youtube.com/@visitationtv/streams

John Michael Langle, Jr., 85, beloved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully on June 25th, 2026 at his home surrounded by loved ones after a courageous and strong 24-year battle with cancer. There will be a visitation held at Visitation Catholic Church, 5141 Main St. Kansas City, Missouri 64112, on Tuesday, June 30th at 10:00 a.m. This will be followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. and burial at Calvary Cemetery.

John was a natural people person, who always had a joke to say or a story to tell. He lit up rooms with his personality and made people feel welcomed and seen with his kind and caring spirit. John was born on February 18th, 1941 in Kansas City, Missouri to his parents, John (Mike) and Magdelin Huber Langle. He was an older brother to his sister, Martha, and he would often speak highly of childhood memories with her and how he was blessed with a great first friend.

After attending St. Peter’s Grade School and Rockhurst High School, John attended Rockhurst College. From there, he would go on to own and manage Liggett & Langle Co. for many years where he specialized in plumbing supply sales. It was doing this where John was able to do one of his favorite things, meet and engage with people. He was one of the best at remembering the names, details, and stories about the people he met. He forged lifelong relationships through business that later became lifelong friendships.

John’s life changed when he met the love of his life, Julitta Doerhoff. After playing the roles of Best Man and Maid of Honor together at another wedding, they soon began a relationship themselves and had their own wedding on June 15th, 1968 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in St. Elizabeth, Missouri. In 58 years of marriage, the two cared deeply for each other, traveled the country, had 3 children, and made memories together to last a lifetime.

While helping to raise his children, the family would often spend many weekends at their lake house in Lake Lotawana, Missouri. When asked about weekend plans, John would often joke and say he spent it “working at the lake house” as he kept up with projects and maintenance. However, if you really talked to him, you would know some of his favorite memories came when he was able to spend long afternoons on the water with his family skiing, followed by evenings grilling and sitting outside, enjoying the company. His love for the water never wavered as he later purchased his own sailboat that he would take out for rides on Lake Jacomo even into his 70s.

In his later years, John found new purpose, as a grandfather to 6 grandchildren who he loved deeply. Whether it was teaching them to ride a bike or drive a car, he loved sharing milestones with them and being a role model that they could look up to. He loved finding reasons to get everyone together and was no stranger to putting on his own events like Pinewood Derby races in the backyard and New Years Eve parties in the living room. Whenever his grandchildren would stay the night, the “sleep fairy” always found a way of leaving a gold dollar under the pillow thanks to him.

John retired from full time work in 2002 upon a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, but he refused to let that stop him from doing the things he wanted to do and living the life he wanted to live. As a parishioner of Visitation Catholic Church for 58 years, he had a deep-rooted faith that he leaned on to give him strength in his 24-year battle with cancer. He found joy tending to his yard and working on projects outside. He also volunteered in the Visitation business manager’s office, counting the weekly collections. To a stranger, John never appeared sick. His spirit and joy for life and the people in it were far more powerful than any diagnosis he had.

He is preceded in death by his parents Mike and Magdelin Langle. He is survived by his beloved wife, Julitta; his daughter Jennifer Davidson and husband, Tom; his son John Langle III and wife, Holli; his son Joe Langle and wife, Bridget; his 6 grandchildren, Jack, Katie, Abby, Haley, and Ethan Langle and Dawn Emma Corder and husband, Kairo Castro; his sister, Martha Hamilton, of Seattle, Washington; and an abundance of nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends who will forever hold in their hearts the cherished memories of the great man John was.

To those wishing to express remembrance, the family suggests donations to Visitation Church at 5141 Main St. Kansas City, Missouri 64112 or a charity of your choice.