Jack Dean (J.D.) Updike II, 62 of Plattsburg, Mo., went to his heavenly home on March 22, 2024.
J.D. was born September 30, 1961, in Maryville, Mo., to Jack and Dorene Pierson Updike. He was preceded in death by his father, and his first wife, Kimberly Eisenhauer. He is survived by his wife, April Espey Updike; daughters ,Tysa Updike, Taylor Updike, Emily (Aaron Tompkins) Barclay, Rebecca Barclay and Elizabeth Barclay; granddaughters, Ariana Canul and Katherine Tompkins; his mother, Dorene Updike; brother, Donavan (Dana) Updike; niece, Deanna; and sister, Johanna Updike. Also surviving is his mother-in-law, Beverly Espey, brother-in-law, Tim (Amy) Espey, nieces Molly and Magnolia, and nephew, Sam, as well as brother-inlaws Mike Eisenhauer, John Eisenhauer and Todd (Judy) Eisenhauer; nieces and nephews Alex, Caleb, Paige and Jacob. He is also survived by special aunts and uncles and many cousins.
J.D. grew up in Gladstone and Liberty, graduating from Liberty High School in 1980. In high school, he studied auto mechanics. Following graduation, he moved to Maryville, Mo., and worked as a Chevrolet mechanic before returning back to the Kansas City area. In 1981, he married Kim Eisenhauer and twins Tysa and Taylor were born. Kim passed away in 1999. In 2006, J.D. married April Espey and gained three more daughters, including another set of twins.
J.D. spent many of his summers growing up in Nodaway County, working with uncles and cousins farming and putting up hay. He had many loves in his life, including farming, fishing, watching John Wayne movies and listening to Elvis. He could play the piano, cello and violin, cook, bake and barbecue. He was determined that all five of his daughters be able to change a tire and check their vehicle fluids. He taught auto mechanics at a homeschool cooperative. J.D. had been a firefighter both professionally and as a volunteer for Plattsburg and Lathrop, as well as a CPR instructor. He was a racing fan and worked 16 years at the Kansas Speedway on the fire and rescue team as a pit row fire fighter.Anytime a young child visited the farm, they were gifted a tractor ride. J.D. loved to study the weather and usually his predictions were more accurate than the local TV stations. J.D. loved to play pranks and joke. He studied genealogy and history. He was a family man who loved his daughters and granddaughters. Often he would volunteer at church to help cook or help with VBS. On more than one occasion, he helped people out with gas money, paying for their groceries, giving someone hay or firewood, or even a car payment. But of all these, his strongest love was for Jesus Christ.
In 2014, J.D. retired from Bayer Chemical with almost 30 years of service. He then worked at MoDOT for an additional five years so he could “play with trucks and tractors.” He will be missed by all who knew him.
Services and visitation for J.D. Updike were at Bailey Cox Funeral Home in Plattsburg on April 2, 2024. Burial followed at Prairie Ridge Cemetery in Polo. Arrangements: Bailey & Cox Family Funeral Service, Plaatsburg, Missouri. Online guestbook and obituary at www.baileycox.com
