REAR ADMIRAL JAMES EDWARD MANTEL

MANTEL 7/17/1927 - 4/6/2012 RADM James Edward Mantel, 84, of Kansas City, MO, passed away Friday April 6, 2012 at St. Joseph Medical Center. Funeral services will be 10:00am Friday April 13, 2012 at Leawood Baptist Church, 8200 State Line Rd., Leawood, KS. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00pm Thursday April 12, 2012 at the Church. Burial will be in Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Leawood Baptist Church, Kingswood Chaplains' Fund or to the Wounded Warrior Project. RADM Mantel was born July 17, 1927 in St. Joseph, MO, to Edward J. Mantel and Bernice Jessie Baker. He graduated from Southeast High School in 1944 and then attended Iowa State University and graduated in 1950 with a degree in Architectural Engineering. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, member of Tau Sigma Delta, Architecture and Engineering honorary and pep band. RADM Mantel started his architectural career in 1950 in Kansas City, MO. He became a partner in the firm of Peterson and Scharhag in 1954. He started his own firm in 1957, retiring in 1993. The firm specialized in religious and educational projects, receiving principle awards from the American Institute of Architects for outstanding design, including St. Mark's Ecumenical Church of Kansas City, MO, which was featured in Time Magazine. The firm continues today as Mantel Teter Architects, Inc. RADM Mantel Military career started July 10, 1945 when he enlisted into the US Navy as a Seaman. Following one year active service he transferred to the US Navy Reserves. In September 1950 he was appointed to a direct commission, Ensign, USNR Civil Engineer Corps. He met his future wife, Alyce while on assignment to Great Lakes Naval Training Center as Executive Officer for Reserve Seabee Division 9-18 (Kansas City). Due course promotion to Captain (February 1971) and early promotion at age 49 to Rear Admiral (1976), the first architect selected to this rank in the Civil Engineering Corps, USNR. He retired as Commander, First Reserve Naval Construction Brigade, the largest Reserve Navy force under one Reserve command. He was a member of American Institute of Architects, Society of American Military Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, Missouri Association of Registered Architects, Society of Architectural Historians, American Legion Post 370, Military Officers Association of America and Boy Scouts of America. He served at a deacon at Swope Park Baptist Church and Leawood Baptist Church; Trustee of Baptist Memorial Hospital; Kansas City, MO, Chamber of Commerce; and Mayflower Society. RADM Mantel was survived by his wife Alyce Marie Baker Mantel, his children Cherie Middleton and her husband Richard Middleton of Minneapolis, MN; Eric J. Mantel and his wife Carol Mantel of Killen, AL; and Alison Maier and her husband Tim Maier of Ottawa, KS; his grandchildren, Lisa Middleton Smith, Zachary Paul Maier, Katherine Elizabeth Maier, and his sister B. Joan Mantel Henry of Kansas City, MO. In his words, "It was a great trip -- Seaman to Admiral without one day of active duty as an officer, but a lot of days of training duty, readiness duty and command duty as a Flag Officer. We have come a long way and it was a labor of love for the enlisted Seabee and readiness defense posture of our great and free country. Let's do it again! Fair Winds and Following Bulldozers." Arrangements, Langsford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3rd Street, Lee's Summit, MO Online condolences and memories may be left for the family at langsfordfuneralhome.com