George Joseph Laing

George Joseph (“Joe”) Laing of Prairie Village, Kansas, born June 2, 1941, in Kansas City, Missouri, died peacefully on October 20, 2026, surrounded by his loving wife of 50 years, Janice (“Jan”) Leigh Laing (née Gillis) and his daughter, Deanna Laing Van Auken of Lawrence, Kansas.

All who knew Joe admired his integrity, intelligence, dry sense of humor, and passion for the works of Charles Dickens, and especially his enthusiasm for world travel and the outdoors.

A 1964 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy, Joe worked as a pharmacist in Kansas and Missouri, owned Merit Drugs of Kansas City, Missouri, worked at Treasury Drugs, and retired from the Veterans Affairs Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) in Leavenworth, Kansas. Joe also owned and operated MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream with his wife Jan in Overland Park, Kansas.

Joe and Jan travelled throughout Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Scotland, Russia, and the Mediterranean, as well as Mexico and throughout the United States. Joe (a former Eagle Scout), Jan, and Deanna hiked many mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado. Treasured friends Frank and Jane Painter and Bob and Bev Blair often joined them at Machin’s Cottages in the Pines for hiking adventures, Frank being especially adventurous.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Odella Adele Laing (née Beauregard), and his younger brother, John Frederick (“Fred”) Laing (Linda Jeanne, née Hubbard).

His other survivors include beloved nephew John Michael Laing (Marisa) and nieces Christina Suzanne and Amanda Kaye Laing, grandnephews Zane Frederick and Quinn Alexander Laing, and the extended Laing family in Bremen and throughout Germany; son-in-law Joseph Fulton Van Auken, Jr.; sister in-law Joyce Ann Mapel (Bob E., dec.) and brother-in-law Jack Dwayne Gillis

(Janet); beloved nephew James (“Jim”) R. Carmody, Jr. (Cindi); and many other nephews, nieces, and extended family and friends.

A private celebration of life will be at Amos Family Funeral Home. 

The family suggests donations to the  National Parks Conservation Association — and traveling to your favorite place and raising a glass to Joe.