Joseph Patrick Finnesy

Joseph P. Finnesy, 93, of St. George, Kansas, and formerly of Russell, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at the Home of the Flint Hills in St. George.

Joseph was born July 2, 1932 in Osborne County, Kansas. He was one of five children born to Joseph M. and Fern M. (Davis) Finnesy. He grew up north of Natoma, Kansas on the farm. He graduated from Natoma High School in the Class of 1951.

Joseph served his country in the US Army from 1953 to 1955, serving during the Korean War, stationed on Okinawa. After serving his country he returned to the Natoma area.

Joseph was united in marriage to Mildred M. Fuller on August 26, 1957 in Hays, Kansas. This union was blessed with two daughters, Kathleen and Karen. Mildred preceded him in death on June 8, 2016.

Joseph was a farmer and rancher most of his life. After marriage, he worked in the oil fields as a roustabout and helped his dad on the family farm. Then in 1969, they moved to Russell where he would help his father-in-law, John Fuller on the farm. In 1969 they moved to Waldo, Kansas and then in 1974 moved to the farm north of Russell. He was a member of the Russell American Legion Post #99, and attended the morning coffee group at COOP. He enjoyed tinkering, working on old tractors and was always a gun enthusiast.

Joseph is survived by his daughters, Kathleen Waitt (Jim) of Manhattan, Kansas and Karen Polson (Brad) of Manhattan, Kansas; and sister, Mary Ann Breit (Eddie) of Hays, Kansas.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mildred; infant son; brothers, Matt Finnesy and Dennis Finnesy; and sister, Wanda Meyer.

Celebration of Joseph’s Life will be held at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, with burial following at Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday, June 1, 2026, at the Mortuary with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial has been established with Russell Regional Hospital, Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.