Mr. Joshua K. "JK" Russell Jr.

Joshua K. "JK" Russell, Jr. passed away on Friday, December 29, 2023, at the home. Joshua Kennedy “JK” Russell, JR. was born on December 3, 1941, in Kansas City, Missouri to J.K. Russell, Sr.. and Josie Mae Todd Russell. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, brother, Frank E. Russell, Sr.. and nephews, Manuel M. Calderon JR. and Poncey Brown, Jr. JK was educated in the Kansas City, Missouri School District and was a graduate of Lincoln High School, class of 1960. He was a Lt. Col. in ROTC and lead the Drill Team to a State Championship. JK attended Metropolitan Junior College (Penn Valley Community College). He began his career in the grocery business at Food Land a neighborhood grocery then Safeway Food Stores. He served in the U.S. Army for two years then returned to his job at Safeway where he was a store manager and retired after 25 years of service after Safeway closed their Midwest Division. While employed at Safeway he was loaned to the Human Recourse Department to participate in a Jobs Program as a Jobs Counselor. His main duties hire and counsel minority employees for the first year of their employment. He worked as assistant manager at Thriftway stores and retired again in 2001 for a total of 40 years in the grocery business. JK united in marriage to Anita Louise Bruce on June 23, 1973, and had recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. As a youth he attended Ward Chapel AME Church. In 1988 he joined his wife at Ebenezer AME Church. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was an active member of Ebenezer until his health began to fail having served on the Trustee Board, the Finance Committee, Lay Organization and Male Chorus. He is a Silver Life Member of NAACP Kansas City, MO Branch and served on the Executive Committee. He served as president of the Lincoln High School Class of 1960. JK loved restoring classic cars. He restored a 1966 Mustang and a 1937 Oldsmobile, and restored or repaired cars for friends. He was President and one of the founders of K.C. Classical Car Club. JK had a great sense of humor, loved to joke and was fun to be around. He was a Kansas City Chiefs fan. He departed this life on December 29, 2023, at home. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Anita L. Russell, sisters Gwendolyn L. Calderon, Rozelia H. Harris and Josie M. Cason of Kansas City, MO. Brother-in-law Wardee R. (Gwendolyn) Bruce, JR, Turlock, CA. Sister-in-law Marietta W. (Edward) Williams, Olathe, KS. Nephews George “Pat” Calderon, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Frank E. Russell, JR, Edward R. Williams, Kansas City, MO. and Darrell D. Bruce, Bakersfield, CA, nieces Lisa Harris, Rozlynn Harris, Jamie Randle, Michelle D. Williams all of Kansas City, MO. and Wenzelyn M. Prychuk of Turlock, CA. and a host of great nephews, great nieces, and other relatives, cousins, friends and a special friend like a son Felix Beavers. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, 11:00am at Ebenezer AME Church. Interment Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00am-11:00am at the church. Services conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons. Condolences may be shared on our website.

Mr. Joshua K. "JK" Russell Jr.

December 3, 1941 - December 29, 2023