Joseph A. Samland
November 26, 1943 – November 2, 2024
Age: 80 Years, 11 Months, 7 Days
FUNERAL MASS
Immaculate Inception Catholic Church
Montrose, Missouri
Friday, November 22, 2024
11:00 a.m.
CELEBRANT
Father Jason Koch
VISITATION/MASS
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Montrose, Missouri
Friday, November 22, 2024
VISITATION: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
ROSARY: 10:40 a.m.
INTERMENT
St. Mary’s Cemetery
Montrose, Missouri
MEMORIAL
St. Mary’s Cemetery, Montrose, Missouri
Web site location: www.hillandson.net
Hill & Son Funeral Home, Appleton City, Missouri
Joseph A. Samland, Jr. age 80, passed away on a Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Appleton City Manor in Appleton City, Missouri, with his life-partner, Cheryl Winfrey-Wilson, by his side.
Joseph Anthony Samland Jr., the only child of Joseph Samuel “Sam” and Mary Elizabeth “Marie” (Engeman) Samland, was born in the hospital of the Sugar Creek area of Independence, Missouri, on November 26, 1943. He was raised by his mother, Marie, his grandparents, and his Engeman aunts and uncles from the age of 3 through 18 years.
Joe Jr. attended St Ludger’s Catholic Church and went to the Catholic school, Maple Grace School, for 1st through 8th grades, then attended Montrose High School, graduating in May 1961. He attended one year of college, but then chose a different career path. Temporary, short-term jobs came along, such as the Clinton Cheese Factory (3 months), Montgomery Ward store clerk, and the Moore Brothers Florist shop (3 months). Joe remembers that he did work with his uncles, Jim and Alfred, helping to pour and finish concrete for the center walkway in one of the 400-foot-long chicken houses on the farm. Joe said, “He wore Uncle Shorty out that day!”
In 1964, Joe chose the National Guard – Air Force and worked as a jet engine mechanic for six years, leaving that career on June 1, 1970. Later, in 1970, Joe was chosen by Lee Jeans Company to be in their advertisement as a jeans model, but he turned it down for a better-paying job. He had completed a modeling job for a TWA commercial and liked that experience.
Soon, Joe’s uncle, Richard Cartwright, called him to ask if Joe wanted a drafting job in the company in his architectural office on the Plaza which Joe accepted, and that led to his career as a piping (plumbing) draftsman. Joe made prints on a machine for various architects, did an electrical drawing, and earned one year’s experience at that company before they closed. Joe worked at Pritchard Company the longest, for 13 years as a piping draftsman, and continued to work on a contract basis with many companies.
From 1970 – 2000, Joe was the project lead for several companies, such as Burns & McDonnell, on a water supply system in Afghanistan; in 1973 he worked in the West Bottoms of KCKS on the hockey arena, drawing up the piping blueprints for that project, and at Bayer of the KC City Center Square; with that project calling for six floors of water works!
Joe also worked at Kansas Sunflower for a plumbing project. Joe’s most memorable project was in Casper, Wyoming, where a company needed a clean water system drawing water from a lake. Joe’s team had four months to complete the project. The company already had two systems made, but they needed two tanks and a few pumps. Joe drew up the plan with no supervisor, using 32 pieces of equipment and a tank that was 20 feet tall. The company turned on the water only four days ahead of the deadline date! The company thought that clean water should test at about 75% pure, and had prior tests at 97%, but Joe’s system tested to 98%. Just perfect, thanks to Joe’s knowledge and plumbing skills. Proctor & Gamble Company sent Joe to Cincinnati, Ohio and their California office; Joe enjoyed the work at the Ohio plant because that building had a wood-domed roof and rock walls.
After 13 years with Pritchard, Joe got laid off in 1999. His friends from Montrose, Fred and Victor Heiman, hired him to build several car wash shops in midtown Kansas City at locations such as 33rd & Main St., 63rd & Troost Ave., and on Prospect — very dangerous areas of the Kansas City! Joe built two car wash shops by himself; he drew up the plumbing blueprints, laid the concrete blocks, welded the $1 money vaults, and tanks – he made everything! Of those six locations, Joe is very proud to say that none of the vaults were ever stolen. One thief did haul away the entire heavy vault, but the city police had been nearby, and caught the man, returning the vault with no loss of money. Joe was happy to say that, during this period in his life, those $1 bills paid off his residence located in Grandview, Missouri in about two years’ time.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Sam 1992 and Marie 1997, and grandparents, August 1966 and Cecelia (Kirsch) 1970 Engeman. He is survived by his life-partner Cheryl Winfrey-Wilson and her four children: Mike Wilson, Damon Wilson, Heather Wilson-Riley, and Connie Wilson Daughtery of Peculiar, Missouri.
May he rest in peace with God, His angels, and His saints.
