Anne
Anne Kimmerly
d. January 19, 2012
Anne Elizabeth Kimmerly, age 54, of Leawood, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2012. She was born on September 11, 1957 in London, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Anne (Spankovic) and Paul Petrak.
Anne grew up on a small farm north of London, Ontario, Canada. She attended Medway High School and participated in various sports and activities, including showing dairy cattle and sheep at the local fall fair. After high school Anne attended the Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology where she graduated with an associates degree in laboratory technology. While at school she met her husband to be, Michael.
Anne and Michael were married on June 23, 1979 at Trinity Lutheran Church in London, Ontario. Their first home was an apartment on Springbank Drive in London, and 11 months after they were married their first son David was born. Michael worked for Agrico fertilizer company and they were soon transferred to the office in Orangeville, Ontario. While living near Orangeville, they adopted their second sons, twins Joshua and Benjamin. In 1985 their home was destroyed by the "Barrie" tornado. Anne literally laid on top of her 3 sons in order to protect them from being carried away by the winds.
After a series of moves around Ontario, Anne and her family moved to the USA, first to Chicago, then to Leawood, Kansas. Oldest son David was a nationally ranked swimmer and stayed in Chicago to attend UIC university on a full scholarship. Graduating with 2 major degrees. David chose to work in the security industry. After a series of quick promotions, he and his new family moved to Dubai UAE where he is now the head of security consulting for the middle east division of the WSP Group.
Concerned about the high schools that were available for Josh and Ben, Anne chose to home school both of the younger boys and they both graduated with their high school diplomas. Josh is an assistant manager at a Kansas City restaurant and Ben works in construction in Calgary, Alberta.
After her children were grown, Anne decided to return to work. The Sears department store in Overland Park was hiring sales staff for their jewelry department and Anne became a jewelry sales associate. She was a natural at helping people and she made many friends with her coworkers and the regular customers who she came to know. Anne continued to work at Sears until her passing.
David and his wife Catherine have given Anne two beautiful grandsons, Ethan and Elijah. Along with her 3 sons, her grandsons were the absolute joy of her life. After they moved to Dubai, Anne became a huge Facebook fan, checking for updates on the goings-on of her grandsons at least 4 or 5 times each day. Unless she was working, her iPhone was always close at hand, and she was always ready to make a comment or give someone a word of encouragement regardless how far away they were.
One of Anne's other passions was cooking. After the family was grown up, Anne started to watch all the Food Network cooking shows, and become a little more adventurous with the dishes she prepared. She never forgot to make family favorites like Shepherds Pie, Cabbage Rolls and Lasagna. However, dishes like Chicken Picatta were added to her repertoire and became instant favorites.
In 2009 Anne and Michael purchased a property in central Missouri near the town of Cole Camp. A small 2 bedroom house became a weekend retreat and Anne lived through the week for the chance to escape to the place she had named "Denfield" after the town where her parents farm had been located. Even though the little house was the definition of modest, Anne loved it more than if it was a palace. Not having any cable or even reliable antenna TV reception, Anne purchased DVD's of 60's and 79's TV shows to watch on these weekends away. Even after her illness got so bad that she could not walk in the woods like she had hoped for, Anne could sit on the back porch and hope for the brief glimpse of a deer or sometimes a doe with her fawn. Building a retirement home with Michael on the Denfield property is the one goal in life that Anne will not accomplish.
Anne was a wonderful person. Her joy for life touched many people and she will be missed by many. Her personality, humor and no-nonsense look on life will live on through her sons and grandchildren.
Anne is survived by her husband Michael; sons David (Catherine) of Dubai, UAE, Joshua of Overland Park, Kansas, Benjamin of Calgary, Canada; grandsons Ethan and Elijah; nephew Brandon. She is predeceased by her parents and her older brother Edward.
Services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday January 25th at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park. Visitations will be Tuesday evening from 7 to 9pm, and Wednesday morning from 10 to 11am. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association at www.phassociation.org.
Anne grew up on a small farm north of London, Ontario, Canada. She attended Medway High School and participated in various sports and activities, including showing dairy cattle and sheep at the local fall fair. After high school Anne attended the Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology where she graduated with an associates degree in laboratory technology. While at school she met her husband to be, Michael.
Anne and Michael were married on June 23, 1979 at Trinity Lutheran Church in London, Ontario. Their first home was an apartment on Springbank Drive in London, and 11 months after they were married their first son David was born. Michael worked for Agrico fertilizer company and they were soon transferred to the office in Orangeville, Ontario. While living near Orangeville, they adopted their second sons, twins Joshua and Benjamin. In 1985 their home was destroyed by the "Barrie" tornado. Anne literally laid on top of her 3 sons in order to protect them from being carried away by the winds.
After a series of moves around Ontario, Anne and her family moved to the USA, first to Chicago, then to Leawood, Kansas. Oldest son David was a nationally ranked swimmer and stayed in Chicago to attend UIC university on a full scholarship. Graduating with 2 major degrees. David chose to work in the security industry. After a series of quick promotions, he and his new family moved to Dubai UAE where he is now the head of security consulting for the middle east division of the WSP Group.
Concerned about the high schools that were available for Josh and Ben, Anne chose to home school both of the younger boys and they both graduated with their high school diplomas. Josh is an assistant manager at a Kansas City restaurant and Ben works in construction in Calgary, Alberta.
After her children were grown, Anne decided to return to work. The Sears department store in Overland Park was hiring sales staff for their jewelry department and Anne became a jewelry sales associate. She was a natural at helping people and she made many friends with her coworkers and the regular customers who she came to know. Anne continued to work at Sears until her passing.
David and his wife Catherine have given Anne two beautiful grandsons, Ethan and Elijah. Along with her 3 sons, her grandsons were the absolute joy of her life. After they moved to Dubai, Anne became a huge Facebook fan, checking for updates on the goings-on of her grandsons at least 4 or 5 times each day. Unless she was working, her iPhone was always close at hand, and she was always ready to make a comment or give someone a word of encouragement regardless how far away they were.
One of Anne's other passions was cooking. After the family was grown up, Anne started to watch all the Food Network cooking shows, and become a little more adventurous with the dishes she prepared. She never forgot to make family favorites like Shepherds Pie, Cabbage Rolls and Lasagna. However, dishes like Chicken Picatta were added to her repertoire and became instant favorites.
In 2009 Anne and Michael purchased a property in central Missouri near the town of Cole Camp. A small 2 bedroom house became a weekend retreat and Anne lived through the week for the chance to escape to the place she had named "Denfield" after the town where her parents farm had been located. Even though the little house was the definition of modest, Anne loved it more than if it was a palace. Not having any cable or even reliable antenna TV reception, Anne purchased DVD's of 60's and 79's TV shows to watch on these weekends away. Even after her illness got so bad that she could not walk in the woods like she had hoped for, Anne could sit on the back porch and hope for the brief glimpse of a deer or sometimes a doe with her fawn. Building a retirement home with Michael on the Denfield property is the one goal in life that Anne will not accomplish.
Anne was a wonderful person. Her joy for life touched many people and she will be missed by many. Her personality, humor and no-nonsense look on life will live on through her sons and grandchildren.
Anne is survived by her husband Michael; sons David (Catherine) of Dubai, UAE, Joshua of Overland Park, Kansas, Benjamin of Calgary, Canada; grandsons Ethan and Elijah; nephew Brandon. She is predeceased by her parents and her older brother Edward.
Services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday January 25th at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park. Visitations will be Tuesday evening from 7 to 9pm, and Wednesday morning from 10 to 11am. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association at www.phassociation.org.
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