Joseph Kenneth (Ken) Hayob, 89, of Lenexa, KS, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at The Heritage of Overland Park. 

Ken was born on August 27, 1935, in Marshall, MO to Richard and Dominga Hayob.  He was one of four sons; the family moved to Slater, MO in 1940.  Ken is preceded in death by his brothers Wayne and Don and survived by brother Mel.  Ken attended high school in Slater where he played football, basketball, and ran track; he was awarded the Optimo Award for Best Student Athlete during his senior year.  He earned a scholarship in football to attend Central Missouri State University (CMSU).  At CMSU, he played football, was a starting pitcher for the Mules baseball team, and joined the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.  He graduated in 1958 with degrees in math and chemistry, and moved to the Kansas City area for a job as a chemist at Bendix Corporation.  Ken continued to be active in sports, and was a starting pitcher spanning eight years for two different minor league teams of the Jayhawk League. 

In 1961, Ken married Barbara Karen Keene of Wausau, WI; they had three daughters—Becky, Jodie, and Staci.  Ken transitioned to homebuilding in the late 1960s and built homes all over the Kansas City metro area for approximately 40 years.  By the time his first grandchild, Morgan Kenna, arrived in February of 2005, Ken was close to retirement.  His next granddaughter Mia was born in August of 2005 and grandson Jake was born in August of 2008.  Ken was a huge fan of area sports teams, including the KC Royals, KC Chiefs, and KU Jayhawks.  In 2017, Ken was extremely proud to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in Baseball while at CMSU.  During his retired years, Ken most enjoyed spending time with family—especially his three grandchildren.