Joseph "Joe" Eli Hess

Nov 24, 2025

Joseph "Joe" Eli Hess, 69, passed away on Nov. 24, 2025, in Perryville, Mo., after a long battle with cancer.

Joe was born in Morgantown, W. Va. in June 1956. In 1960, his family moved to Anchorage, Alaska. He graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1974. After graduation Joe worked as a commercial fisherman and then on the Alaska oil pipeline as a roughneck. This was the start of a forty plus year career in the oil and gas industry with Halliburton. Joe earned two degrees, a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering. Joe is a named inventor on twenty-one United States and foreign patent applications and patents in the oil and gas industry.

Joe lived various places including Alaska, Texas, Louisiana, Canada, and retired in Missouri. He traveled the world with his work to Europe, Africa, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Middle East; and East Asia. He enjoyed the outdoors through hunting, fishing, and travel.

Joe is survived by his wife, Jeanne (Rohlfing) Hess; daughters, Lindsey (Clinton) Browning, Tonya Vincent and Brittany Trahan; sons, Eli (Amber) Hess, Andrew Hess and Aaron Hess; Chad (Andrea) Beckert, Carl (Leslie) Piatt; several grandchildren; sisters, Melinda Dewey and Karen Parks; brother, Andy (Dianne) Hess; and many extended family members.

A memorial service/celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.

In memory of Joe Hess, contributions may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or online at MDAnderson.org/Gifts.

Ford & Young Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.