Joshua William Haines

Joshua William Haines was born in Florence, Alabama, just seven hours after leap day, and was joyfully adopted into the Haines family just days before his five-month birthday. Though his legal adoption wasn’t finalized until November 1996, Josh was a Haines from the moment his parents first laid eyes on him. He was baptized as an infant by Rev. John Ed Mathison at Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, and raised in a loving church community, surrounded by faith, family, and prayer.

From a young age, Josh’s spirit was bright and adventurous, and despite enduring multiple eye surgeries for severe strabismus, he faced each challenge with resilience—earning “Rescue Heroes” action figures as rewards for wearing his doctor-ordered eye patch. His sense of humor blossomed early, along with a love of storytelling, curiosity, and compassion. He was articulate, perceptive, affectionate, and always full of wonder.

Josh spent his early years in Montgomery, Alabama, before moving with his family to Kansas in 2005. He graduated from Blue Valley Northwest High School and attended both Maryville University of St. Louis and Ottawa University for college. Josh was a member of Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, and was active in mission trips and service projects throughout his school years, earning the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Though traditional sports weren’t his passion, he found joy in skateboards, dirt bikes, cars, and later, motorcycles—his love of wheels lasting a lifetime.

Josh held several jobs over the years, from McDonald’s to Best Buy, and photography to security, ultimately blending his love for photography and automobiles into a meaningful vocation. However, what stood out most about Josh was not his employment, it was his heart. He gave freely and often: to the homeless, to a stranger short on cash, to friends in need, and to his family. His smile would light up a room, and behind his sarcasm and wit was a gentle, loyal soul. He loved deeply—his friends, his brother Caleb, his devoted mother, and especially his caring father, who stood by him in both challenges and triumphs.

Among Josh’s proudest moments was climbing Colorado’s Mount Neva. A treasured photo captures Josh beaming at the summit, arms stretched wide in joy and accomplishment. That image should remind us that while Josh’s life ended too soon, it reached incredible heights. He dreamed of a career in law enforcement, cherished the outdoors, and had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel at home. As one friend said, “He was the kind of person who made every place feel like home.”

On the night of May 8, doing what he loved—riding free on his motorcycle—Josh was called home. Though our grief is deep, so too is our gratitude for the joy, light, and love he gave us. We entrust him now into the arms of the Father, imagining him walking with his Pappy (his grandfather), feeding deer, loving life, and climbing the beautiful mountains of heaven. We miss him dearly. We always will. His light will never dim in the hearts of those who love him.

Josh is survived by his parents, Terry Haines and Mary Haines, his younger brother, Caleb Haines, and a host of relatives who loved him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Church of the Resurrection, Main Sanctuary in Building A, 13720 Roe Ave, Leawood, KS 66224. A cookie reception will follow in the church narthex where the family will receive guests. The service will also be live-streamed and recorded for those watching from out of town and will become active 28 minutes prior to the planned service time at this link: https://online.brushfire.com/careandmentalwellness/memorials/cq9mk6jw6r

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joshua’s memory may be made to The Caring Congregation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to caring ministries, where Terry serves on the board and Mary serves on their staff (mail to 11184 Antioch Rd. #283, Overland Park, KS 66210, or donate online at thecaringcongregation.com).

To leave a special message for his family or to share a memory of Josh, please visit the guestbook below.