Joseph Paul Francel III, 63, of Wichita, KS, passed away Sunday, August 25th, 2024 at his home. He was born on October 24, 1960, in Wichita, KS, the son of Joseph and Helen (Jackson) Francel.

Joseph graduated from Wichita High School Northwest in 1979, and attended Wichita State University and Hutchinson Community College, where he earned his Associate's Degree in Music Business in 1982. He worked as a courier for the Via-Christi hospital network.

He was a lifelong musician of guitar and piano, a blues and jazz enthusiast, a lover of classic cars, and was fond of learning local historical trivia. He was a proud Wichitan, cyclist, and rock and roller. Joseph was a kind, gentle-hearted man who was deeply devoted to his family and friends, with a love and loyalty that was unending and unfathomable.

Joseph was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Francel, and his step-mother, Sandra Francel.

Survivors include daughter Natalie Francel-Stone (William Ray) of Grand Island, NE, sister Karin Francel of Wichita, KS, step-brother Bear Folger (Lori) of Bluffton, SC, step-sister Cyndee Masterson (Mike) of Denver, CO, father Joseph Francel Jr. of Wichita, KS, and partner Gale Harris, of Wichita, KS.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 30th, 2024, at 11:00 am at Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, 5701 E. Mt Vernon St, Wichita, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Joseph's name to the Save the Music Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to helping schools revive and maintain their music programs.