Joseph (Joe) Anthony Mentlick, 77, of Colby, died Friday, January 8,
2021, at Presbyterian/ St. Luke’s Medical Center, Denver, CO. He was
born September 21, 1943, in Colby, KS to Joseph and Bonnie (Haremza)
Mentlick.
Joe graduated from Atwood Community High School in 1961, and married
Jane Havel on June 20, 1961, in Atwood. Joe studied for one year at
McCook Community College before returning to the family farm to begin
his career as a farmer. After that, Joe and Jane moved to Colby and he
continued to be involved with the farming community by delivering
products such as fuel and fertilizer.
In his spare time, Joe enjoyed hunting and working on projects in his
garage. He was passionate in his support of Northwest Kansas Special
Olympics and, with Jane, was named the Volunteer of the Year in 2011.
Joe and Jane were instrumental in establishing the Northwest Kansas
Truck Convoy for the Special Olympics in 2007 in Colby and continued to
be active in this annual event.Joe was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic
Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Sons of the American Legion.
Joe was a true patriot; he believed in the Constitution and loved the
American Flag. Above all, Joe loved his family and spending time with
his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; he often said if he
“knew grandkids were so much fun he would have had them first.”
He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws, Joe and Gertrude Havel.
He is survived by his wife Jane; children, Debbie (Wayne) Luckert,
Denise Mentlick, Tony (Stacey) Mentlick, Cindi (David) Stitt, and Greg
Mentlick; 9 grandchildren, Sara (Brad) Owen, Ryan (Jaymie) Luckert,
Aaron Luckert, Megan (Tim) Zerr, Julie (Brad) Kabel, Brian Mentlick,
Brandon (Jeannine fiancé) Domsch, Crystin (Bryan) Domsch-Lewis, and
Ashton (Dusty) Baker and 16 great-grandchildren, Gavin, Ayden, Rylee,
Tess and Emery Owen, Lawson, Landry and Ledger Luckert, Claudia and
Clara Zerr, Bladin Domsch, Aria, Emma, Maverick and Ember Domsch-Lewis
and Deke Baker.
Visitation is 1-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at Baalmann
Mortuary, Colby. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 14,
2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Colby, and will be live streamed
on the Sacred Heart Facebook page. The family requests face masks be
worn and social distancing observed at the services. Burial will take
place in the church cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the NWKS
Special Olympics and may be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box
391, Colby, KS 67701.
A Celebration of life convoy will be held at a later date. The family
wants everyone to stay safe and healthy through this difficult time.