City of Lenexa mourns loss of council member Joe Karlin

Published on December 11, 2024

Joe Karlin headshot photo

It is with great sadness that the City of Lenexa acknowledges the passing of City Council Member Joe Karlin. A passionate advocate for our community, Joe served Lenexa for more than 20 years as a member of the City Council and Planning Commission.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Council Member Karlin,” said Lenexa Mayor Julie Sayers. “In his decades of service we have appreciated that Joe was steadfast in his commitment to servant leadership, a long-term steward of the vision of our community and a friend to all of us.  We will miss his compassion, bright sense of humor and dedication to our mission of transparent, thoughtful and inclusive governance.”

Deeply committed to public service, Joe was appointed to the Lenexa Planning Commission in May 2004 by former Mayor Mike Boehm where he served five years. In May 2009 Boehm appointed him to the Lenexa City Council to fulfill the term of Jane Klein who passed while in office. Joe was elected to the Ward 1 seat in 2013 and was re-elected in all subsequent elections.

“Joe Karlin was a statesman,” said former Mayor Boehm. “Throughout his appointed and elected service to the City of Lenexa, he was a thoughtful team member, considered the views of everyone and sought common ground on issues before the Planning Commission and City Council. Joe kept a watchful eye on decisions impacting his ward yet reviewed those decisions in the context of what was good for the city at-large.”

A Lenexa resident since 1992, Joe operated a small business in Lenexa with expertise in banking. He also worked 14 years in management for U.S. Central Credit Union and three years for Deloitte & Touche.

Beyond his duties as an elected official, Joe contributed to our community through various roles. He served on the homeowners’ association boards for both Oak Park and Brookwood subdivisions, co-presided over the Shawnee Mission West High School Booster Club, represented Lenexa on the United Community Services of Johnson County’s Drug and Alcoholism Council, actively participated in the Lenexa Chamber and graduated from Leadership Lenexa. 

Joe also impacted the lives of countless youth in the community through his involvement in the Christa McAuliffe Elementary School PTA, as a youth sports coach, and as co-founder and executive director of the Tom Karlin Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of teen's lives and reduce suicides through awareness and education.

Lenexa City Code stipulates vacancies on City Council are filled through an appointment by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council. Information about the application process for the position will be forthcoming.