LTC John W. Ball, USAR (Ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel John William Ball, USAR (Ret.), 67, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was born July 3, 1957, in Kanas City, Missouri, the son of John W. “J” and Betzey J. (Curnow) Ball. He departed this life Thursday, December 19, 2024, at the St. Luke’s East Hospital surrounded with love and family.

John was a 1975 Estherville, Iowa, high school graduate and later earned his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Iowa.

While in college he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps which began his nearly thirty-year career in the Unites States Army. He proudly served for eight years in the regular army, later transferring to the reserves eventually earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served in Germany during Operation Desert Storm. He also served in Bosnia, Croatia, and Hungary during Operation Joint Endeavor as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, and in the Global War On Terrorism. He retired in 2017.

On July 21, 1984, he was united in marriage to Cynthia S. Harms in Blue Springs and to this union two daughters, Ashleigh and Katelyn, were born.

John was employed as a Criminal Investigative Analyst for the Internal Revenue Service in Kansas City, retiring in December 2019. He was a member of the Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Lee’s Summit and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5789, Lee’s Summit. He enjoyed shopping antique stores, playing cards, shooting guns at the local gun range, and traveling. Above all he loved taking care of and spending time with his family.

John is survived by his wife, Cindy of Lee’s Summit; two daughters, Ashleigh Ball of Lee’s Summit and Katelyn (and Scott) Gavin of Fenton, Missouri; one grandson, Rowan Gavin; his mother, Betzey Ball of Lee’s Summit; two sisters, Karen Ball of Lee’s Summit and Sharon Carter of Phoenix, Arizona.

Visitation and funeral services were held Friday, December 27, 2024, at the Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Lee's Summit.  Pastor Jon Gruen officiated. Interment was in the Greenwood Cemetery with full military honors by the United States Army and the V.F.W. Post #5789 Honor Guard. Casket bearers were Danny Winfrey, Abraham Winfrey, David Winfrey, Levi Winfrey, Joseph Winfrey, Scott Gavin, Andrew Odle, and Nathan Odle.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Wounded Warriors Project and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.StanleyEdenburn.com

Arrangements: Stanley-Edenburn Funeral Home, 203 N. Armstrong St., Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080 (816) 540-5550