William RJ Mendel, 86 years, 10 months, 8 days old, passed away on January 11, 2022 at Heart of the Ozarks Health Care Center in Ava.
RJ was born March 3, 1935 in Rome, MO to Virgil and Claudia (Selvidge) Mendel.
On May 6, 1954 RJ and Delphia Wright were united in marriage at the Ava RLDS Church and they were blessed with two children, Joe & Karen.
He was retired from working 35 years as a Airline Mechanic for TWA in the Kansas City Metro area. RJ was an accomplished carpenter. He had built over 50 homes in the Kansas City area.RJ also loved farming and bought the Douglas County farm and spent the weekends there until he retired and moved to Ava.
RJ was a founding member of the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was ordained an Elder. He very much enjoyed his ministry in the church. He loved traveling to share the gospel. RJ loved playing checkers, pitch,fishing and his cows.
RJ was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Delphia in 2015, his son, Joe in 2017, a son-in-law, Brian Burton in 2020 and a sister, Velda Harvey.
RJ is survived by his daughter, Karen Burton, daughter-in-law, Maggie Mendel, grandchildren: Erica, Danny, and Bradley, great grandchildren: Colby, Morgan, Sutton, and Sydney Newman, Lauren, Zach, Blayne, Sara, Khale and Truman Mendel, Bryan and Austin Stubbs, his sister, Marie Huff, his brother, Gary Mendel, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for RJ will be Monday, January 17, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, MO with burial following in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to service on Monday at 1:00 p.m. Officiating will be High Priest Will Job. Family requests memorials to the Walnut Grove Cemetery.
