Joe Everett Rhoades

***For Joe's Service, the family requests everyone to please wear your favorite Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Golf or Rodeo attire.***

God blessed us with Joe Everett Rhoades on January 9th, 1940, born to Reuben and Lola Rhoades on the family farm northeast of Burlington at Hale, CO. It was a home delivery assisted by Grandma Myrtle Rhoades. He became a good ol’ farm boy, growing up with his 4 siblings - older brother Paul, brother Doyle, and sisters Thelma and Jean.

Joe started school a year earlier than originally planned at Beaver Valley Country School because he wanted to join the big boys & ride with Paul on their horse, Tony. He finished school at Burlington High School in 1957 where he played basketball, football and baseball. During his years on the farm, he, Paul and their Dad all played on summer baseball teams. He never remembered being bored because if they weren’t working, they were playing catch. If he wasn’t playing ball, he would be farming or raising grand champion Hereford steers for the Kit Carson County fair. Most his siblings raised grand champion Hereford steers from his Dad’s herd. Joe said, “after breakfast, Paul got to go with Dad outside, and I had to stay in the house and help Mom.” This paid off years later when he became a single parent, cooking, doing laundry and gardening.

After graduation, Joe decided late to attend college at Western State in Gunnison. He kinda missed the enrollment process and ended up on a friend’s doorstep, asking if he could bunk at their place since he did not have a dorm room. He majored in business administration for the first 2 years and then “changed his major” to rodeo after getting acquainted with the local ranchers and farmers. He worked at several jobs while in Gunnison including building dorms for Western State College, making logs for log cabins at Lucklogs, a cleaning crew, a sawmill, an oil drilling rig, and building campgrounds for the forest service. Ranching and rodeo became his passion. During the summers of 1961-1963 he worked with Stock Contractor Ed Wilson, while riding bulls and bareback horses in area rodeos, winning the Bareback Championship of 1962 in Salida, CO. He hurt his shoulder during one ride, and another ride ended with a bull stepping on him which required a trip to the hospital. He promptly checked himself out, rubbed some dirt on it and continued to the next rodeo. He helped judge at rodeos and talked of many road trips with the rodeo crews.

Drafted into the US Army on June 1964, he completed Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and was later stationed at Ft. Sill, OK and next to Hanau Kascern, Germany where, as an SP4, he served as an Artillery surveyor in the 1st Battalion 32nd Artillery. Upon discharge in June 1966, he toured Europe with his buddy, Roger Hamil for 3 months before coming home to work for Schlosser Concrete where he had worked during the summers of his last 2 years of college.

Settling in Burlington, he married Carlotta Hemmert in ‘67, built his home on 8th street in 1969 and worked with Herman Lumber 1970-1986. Then he started his own construction business. He painted, remodeled, and did finishing & drywall work for many customers in Burlington. Some notable projects he was involved with were the new airport, Econo Lodge, public swimming pool and numerous homes in the surrounding communities. Upon retiring from construction in 2006, he kept working… Joe tried his hand at carrying the mail and then became the “maintenance man” at Morgan Community College (MCC) – Burlington Center. He helped MCC move from downtown to the present location. He officially retired in 2019 but continued working at MCC until January 16, 2026. Valerie was the director at MCC during this time, and they worked together until she retired in 2022. This working relationship made for a lot of “tongue in cheek” jokes about “the Director” and the “Maintenance Man” for over 20 years.

Joe loved becoming a Dad. The sparkle in his eyes became his daughter, Evonne Marie, born in 1968 and his son, Coy Joe, in 1972. He often joked if Coy had been born first, he would have been an only child because he was such a fussy baby. Their swim meets, cheerleading, basketball, t-ball, Pee wee wrestling & football all found him on the sidelines cheering them on. Traveling to games & matches was a highlight of his week to cheer their teams. One Halloween a storm approached so Joe took Evonne & Coy “trick or treating” a day early to beat the storm, much to the dismay of the kids and surprise of the neighbors. Trips to Denver for the weekend were a highlight for Joe playing racquet ball against Travis & Coy, swimming, school shopping and watching football games at the pubs with Larry Brisendine. Watching Evonne and Coy grow up and become adults were some of his most proud moments. Socializing with them as adults was always a highlight – Coy’s 30th birthday at JC’s bar, Evonne’s Halloween/birthday parties, tailgating at the Bronco games, golf trips and sitting on the back patio.

Becoming “Papa Joe” to his granddaughter Brittany in November of 1991 added more joy to his life. Watching her grow up and become a bride was such a thrill. One of his favorite trips was their Hawaii trip with Evonne and JC, Brittany, Coy and Valerie. Traveling the island under JC’s direction-the north shore, Pearl Harbor, the Dole Plantation- was a wonderful family trip. Finding out is his” new grandson to be” was a Raiders Fan led to some interesting discussions around the dinner table…

In 1981, three wooden animals were stolen from the Kit Carson County Carousel. The town held a benefit dance for the reward fund and Joe volunteered as a bartender where he met Valerie Rainbolt who became the love of his life. After dating for several years, they married in July 1984, and she joined him on the sidelines cheering on Evonne and Coy. Those sidelines introduced Joe and Valerie to lifelong friends Larry and Shirley Brisendine and their children, Traci and Travis and all the Brisendine extended families. Joe became “Papa Joe” to the Brisendine’s and joined the annual Father/Son camping trips with Coy for over 40 years. The camping trips started in tents and campgrounds and progressed to renting five-star houses. Washer board tournaments, complete with brackets, were drawn up for the weekend for up to 25 people at $1/game. It was a tradition that now includes the 3rd generation of campers.

When he wasn’t working, you could find him at the gym (multiple days a week even at the age of 85) or tending to his lawn and garden and growing the best home-grown tomatoes. Other activities were playing summer baseball & co-ed softball. It was said that he was the best shortstop, and no one could get a ball past him. He played on the co-ed Dairy Queen team with brother-in-law, Ron Weisshaar, and this kept his love of ball alive for many years. When he decided to hang up his softball cleats, he went back to golfing. He joined the men’s league, golfed in men’s tournaments and taught Valerie how to golf. They played in many fun couple’s golf tournaments – even ran the Goodlington tournament one year. Golf trips took them throughout Colorado, Arkansas, Arizona and Utah where he scored his first hole in one at 84 years old in Park City at Canyons Golf Course.

When the Colorado Rockies arrived in Denver, he was in “hog” heaven. We had to get to the stadium early for the games to watch batting practice and stayed until the last pitch was thrown. Attending the fireworks game on 4th of July and getting to go down on the field was so exciting for him. Cheering on the Broncos with Evonne & Coy was the highlight of his weekends every fall. It became a family affair each season with their football pool, texts and discussions. The ultimate experience was tailgating at Mile Hi Stadium with Evonne & JC and their friends.

Joe loved to travel and take trips. One summer, he took Evonne & Coy to the Black Hills. Other trips were camping with the kids to Chadron, NE and a trip to the Gunnison area to camp and visit his rodeo buddies. His first cruise was to Alaska with Valerie. From ziplining to whale-watching to seeing the glaciers, every day was a new day to explore God’s beauty. They cruised the Northern & Southern Mediterranean & Mexico where they met cruising buddies Don & Loretta Kube. If they weren’t cruising, they were traveling the US – Arkansas, Texas, Wyoming, Dakotas, Idaho, California, Vegas and Arizona- seeing the country and visiting friends.

The FNC group – Friday Night Club – kept them busy. Friday nights included dancing, dinners, card parties, Bronco parties, showers for our kids, golfing, trips to Vegas and Christmas in downtown Denver. The theme was ‘fun’ and the more the merrier.

Joe loved God. His faith in and love for God were seen in his life and in his devotion to his church. He started every morning in prayer and reading his bible. He had just finished reading through the Bible for the third time in recenter years. We’re comforted to know where Joe is now, because he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.

He was such a kind man, a true gentleman – always holding the door open for others even when he was hurting, and his back was in pain. He had a great sense of humor. He would easily get tickled and end up getting the whole group laughing during card games. Visiting with him one-on-one was the best way to get to know him; a man of few words, but when he spoke, it was worth hearing. He was more than willing to help anyone but hated to ask for help himself. When he was traveling with Valerie, you would find them holding hands wherever they walked. He was her #1 supporter in many new endeavors in her work life and many friendships. Nieces and nephews commented about his kindness, humble spirit, cheerful disposition, saying he “always made me feel good”, a strong work ethic, loved & served our country & loved God.

He is survived by his best friend and loving wife, Valerie, his #1 daughter, Evonne, and granddaughter, Brittany, (Elijah) Martinez, of Aurora; #1 son, Coy, of Denver; sister Thelma, of Elizabeth, CO & families; sister Jean (Ron) Weisshaar of Burlington & families; sister-in-law Wendy Rhoades (Marvin Taylor), of Lincoln, NB and families; niece Lori (Richard) Urie of Burlington and families; sister-in-law Benita (Doug) Howell, of Lakewood, CO & families; brother-in-law Ben (Bennie) (Pam) Rainbolt, of Gilcrest, CO & families; nephews, Brad (Becky) Johnson, of Eagle and family and Brett (Cait) Johnson, of Highlands Ranch and family. Extended family- Larry & Shirley Brisendine, their daughter, Traci (Troy) Hinkhouse, granddaughters, Alex and Bailie, of Burlington and their son, Travis Brisendine, & grandchildren Bo & London, Hadley and Lindi of Fort Smith, AR. Pat Brisendine of Burlington & families, Billie & Herbie Brown, of Springfield, CO and families. Joe & Valerie’s kitties Oliver and Oscarena (Oscar), and many nephews and nieces who had special places in his heart. Watching them at reunions, weddings and gatherings always amazed him how they grew up to become mini versions of their parents.

He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, JC Collier; parents, Reuben and Lola Winfrey Rhoades; brother, Paul Rhoades and his wife Karon; brother, Doyle Rhoades; brother-in-law, Dennis Clark; parents-in-law, Ben and Marjorie (Tiny) Bowling Rainbolt, and sister-in-law, Marilyn Barnhart.

Memorial contributions may be made out to the William Hogate VFW Post 6491, Burlington Library or to the E-Free Church and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.