John Joe Monroe, 87, of Glenwood, Mo., formerly of Kewanee, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, Mo.

He was born on July 19, 1939, in Nichols, Iowa, the son of Lee and Margaret Jane (Brown) Monroe. John had been married to Patricia Camey. Survivors include his two daughters, Shellie Lorenzen of Colchester, IL and Kellie (Jeff) Wilke of Kewanee, his sister, Helen Hubbell of Rockville, MD, four grandchildren; Kaila (Jesse) Hassinger, Travis (Elizabeth) Lorenzen, Allen (Rebecca) Lane and Katie Lane and three great grandchildren with one on the way; Enora Hassinger, Anna Lane, John Lane and Baby Lorenzen. He was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings; Lee, Clinton, Robert, James, Eileen, Ruby and Marilyn.

John graduated from Kewanee High School in 1957 and served his country in the Army National Guard. He was a retired Union Business Agent and was a well-known dog breeder. Over the years John has raised, trained and hunted tens of thousands of dogs. John was a man of his word as attested by many of his friends and clients. He worked tirelessly to promote the Finley River Treeing Walker bloodlines. He especially enjoyed working with young hunters to help them get started in the sport. John won the UKC Coonhound World Championship in 1965, 2009, and 2022. He is the youngest and oldest owner/handler to do so and the only one to do so three times. John also thoroughly enjoyed attending the Schuyler Nutrition Site (a senior citizens center) and socializing with people everywhere he went. He derived great joy from bringing treats to those who helped him such as bank tellers, nurses, clerks, etc.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday Sept. 26 at the First United Methodist Church in Kewanee with Pastor Haley Hausman officiating. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. The burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery where military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council. Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association or to the Schuyler County Nutrition Site in Lancaster, Mo.