JOE R. PACE

LAMAR- Funeral Mass was held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church for Joe R. Pace, 73, Lamar, who died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin. Burial followed at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Rosary was held at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Daniel Funeral Home, with visitation following Contributions are suggested and made payable to St. Jude's Children Hospital or St. Mary's Cemetery Association, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy Pace; one daughter, Jennifer Baldwin and husband David, Lamar; three grandchildren, Charlotte, Abbigale and Sydnee Baldwin, all of Lamar and two nephews, Christopher Pace and Eric Pace and wife Carrie, all of Salem.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Barrie Pace.

Mr. Pace was born July 27, 1948 in Salem, to John Harrison Pace and Allie Laura June (Schmolzi) Pace. He graduated from Salem High School in the class of 1966 and University of Missouri in 1978. On July 11, 1970, he married Katherine Susan Heim in Columbia, Mo. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1972.

Mr. Pace worked as an agriculture teacher in Lamar Public Schools. He was dedicated to the many FFA trips and events. In addition, he promoted the Missouri Young Farmer's organization and brought crop insurance into this area. He was always interested in agricultural innovations and development of new techniques. After retirement he still followed his students and was always interested in what they were doing. He was a member of many professional and civic organizations and was active in them all. His idea of recreation was watching the crops grow and cattle grazing.