Obituary of Joseph Robert Schell

Joseph Robert "Joe" Schell,  age 51, of Osage Beach, Missouri, passed away at his parent's home, on Friday, August 27, 2021, after a 16-month battle with bladder cancer.

Joe was born in Kansas City, Missouri on December 30, 1969, the son of John and Juda (Phillips) Schell.

Joe’s family moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida before he was a year old and stayed for 13 years before moving to Osage Beach in 1983. Joe graduated from Camdenton High School in 1989 and attended Southwest Missouri State University for two years. He then returned to Osage Beach and began working at the family business, Vista Grande Mexican Restaurant. Joe worked his way up in the business to front end manager where he was loved by all of the customers.

Joe’s favorite activities were playing with and taking long walks with his golden retriever, Harley, who he really loved. Joe liked riding his sea-doo, fishing, snow skiing, and the lake. He was often seen with a Miller Lite in his hand and enjoyed dining and partying with family, and his special friends Kareem Sobky and Terri Baker, of Denver, Colorado, and other friends.  Joe was affectionately known as the "Margarita King of Missouri."

Joe is survived by his parents John and Juda Schell; a beloved grandmother Jessie Schell (age 105) of Jefferson City, Missouri; brother John-John, and wife Julie, of Osage Beach, Missouri, and their two daughters, Jordyn and Jennah; and brother Jim Tom, and wife Ronda, of O'Fallon, Missouri, and their three children Morgan, Megan, and Michael.

Joe was very close to his mother, who he referred to as “The Juda”, because he was born with a mild case of spina bifida and was operated on at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida at age 2. He had numerous stays in hospitals with bladder infections.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 10:00 am at Hedges-Scott Funeral Home in Osage Beach, Missouri. Burial will follow services at Lake Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

 A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, August 31, 2021 from 2:00 – 5:00 pm at Vista Grande Mexican Restaurant in Osage Beach, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Spina Bifida Association. Donations can be made online at https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/ways-to-donate/ or can be mailed to Spina Bifida Association, 1600 Wilson Blvd., Ste 800, Arlington, Virginia 22209.