Justin Simmons – Kansas City, MO 05.01.2026

Justin Joshua Simmons

January 17, 2005 – May 1, 2026

Justin Joshua Simmons, 21, of Kansas City, MO passed away on May 1, 2026. Justin’s life ended suddenly after a fierce one-week fight for his life in the ICU, due to an undiagnosed rare medical condition. This medical condition was as rare as being struck by lightning in one’s lifetime. Likewise, being blessed to know Justin was just as rare as being struck by lightning. Justin’s impact on others can be likened to a huge heart dropping from heaven into the most beautiful lake, sending tender loving ripples out to everyone.

Justin was an intensely curious and playful child who cherished playing with his friends as an only child to his parents. He was born in Santa Barbara, California and at 6 months of age moved with his parents to the Central Coast of California to live in an idyllic co-housing community in the town of Oceano. There he was free to explore his safe world with community children on the playground, trampoline, avocado orchard, garden, and chicken coop in in a close-knit neighborhood stitched together by only walking paths. He explored with his parents the close by ocean beaches, sand dunes, Elfin Forest, Legoland, Big Sur, Northern Red Wood Forest, Monterey Aquarium and Disneyland. Appropriately so, Justin attended pre-school at “Happy Times”, where his mother also volunteered weekly as a teacher’s aide.

Before moving with his parents to Overland Park, KS where Justin lived most of his life from age 6 on, he attended kindergarten at the local elementary school of Arroyo Grande in California. He lived during this time with his parents at what Justin referred to as the “Goat House,” a home which featured 3 acres in a rural area with close-by Lopez Lake. Justin enjoyed his world daily, often with his best friend Zoe, adventuring the vegetable garden, chicken coop, playing with the goats on the pasture and flying high on the tree swing. Justin’s family at the time included three cats and Sid, his beloved Dachshund.

Justin engaged in various phases of most intense interest in the following order: construction and power tools; fire fighters; pirates, Playmobil, and his longest and most cherished creative endeavor of building Legos. Justin was kind to his friends and always shared his food and toys when friends visited him. Justin was always thought of by others to be older than his age due to his height being in the 99th percentile since infanthood. On every school group photo Justin looked as if he had been dropped into the wrong classroom. His 6’8” adult height was noticed and admired by all, and although he did not play basketball, as every stranger expected him to, Justin stood tall as a gentle giant.

After moving to Kansas, Justin attended Trailwood Elementary School, followed by Indian Woods Middle School and Shawnee Mission South High School, where he played the violin in the school Orchestra for 8 years. After he received his high school diploma, he continued his education at Johnson County Community College and had planned to attend KU or UMKC in the Fall of 2026.

Justin was a rare, wise old soul who taught everyone around him how to live with both passionate intensity and immense tenderness. At age 4, in an interaction with his mother, he exclaimed: “God is Everywhere and Everything and not arguing about what God is.” At age 7 Justin created six beautiful crayon paintings in one sitting, writing the titles on each of them as follows: “The Wheel of Peace”; “The Tunnel to Love”; “The Wielders of Love”; “The Keys to Divine Love”; “The Hill of Everything”. At age 10, in another interaction with his mother, he stated confidently: “Mama life is a mystery, and you are the solution”.

His adopted grandmother Aura always referred to him as “Master Justin” and his German-born mother always proclaimed that he was her greatest teacher. Justin was a beautifully sensitive soul. He was always kind, compassionate, helpful, respectful, caring, empathetic, supportive, uniquely funny, emotionally intelligent, passionate, a loyal friend, and the best son any parent could ever ask to be blessed with.

To his online community, Justin was a master of Valorant. He was an enthusiastic competitor, but his true mastery lay in his character. Regardless of a win or loss, Justin’s signature “aftercare” ensured that every teammate felt whole and appreciated. He never left a game without making sure his friends were okay, a quality that defined his life far beyond the screen.

Justin found joy in the natural world, particularly during kayaking adventures with his mother, Birgit, which created “life-surviving” stories they both cherished. Justin had a sharp and curious mind and he and his dad, Lawrence, enjoyed pontooning and swimming in local lakes, watching movies, playing chess, and staying up late discussing the big questions of Life.

During Justin’s short Life he travelled to visit his German family three times. Justin gathered other vacation experiences in Hawaii, California, Tulum Mexico, and various other American vacation destinations. In the last few years of his life, Justin travelled several times to Cincinnati to visit some of his friends and his girlfriend Lena. Justin also loved travelling to Chicago with his friends and same-age German cousin to share the excitement of exploring the wonders of Chicago and experiencing the exhilarating time of jet skiing the Bay.

Justin adored animals of all kinds and had an especially deep connection and love for the playful otters. He was the most devoted companion to his two Dachshunds, Sid and Merlin, and deeply fond of Chihuahuas Buddy and Bella.

Possessing an emotional intelligence that belied his age, Justin provided a “soft landing” for everyone he met. He loved to engage in deep philosophical discussions with his father, stepfather and all who would indulge him in conversing with him about deep topics. His ability to listen and support his loved ones with a gentle, flower-like kindness made him a safe harbor for all.

He is survived by his loving parents, Birgit-Rose Wilke and Lawrence Simmons, his stepparents Tod and Melissa, his German Family, his adopted grandmothers Aura and Sylvia, multiple stepsiblings, his beloved girlfriend Lena, several brother-like close friends, and his most tenderly loved dogs, Sid and Merlin.

Although Justin’s life ended much sooner than anyone expected, he changed the lives of those who knew him forever. Justin lives on in the hearts of the many lives he touched. Justin’s bright spirit taught that the opposite of birth is not death, but Life, as Life and Love are Eternal.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests honoring Justin’s passion for wildlife by making a donation in his name to: “The International Otter Survival Fund” (https://www.otter.org/take-action-1) or “The Friends of the Otter conservation programs”.