Emily Eblen

Emily Jane Eblen of Overland Park, Kansas passed away Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Kansas City at age 73.

Emily will forever be remembered as one of the kindest, most selfless and positive people you could meet. They frankly don't get any nicer than Emily, and that was how she treated everyone. The greatest beneficiaries of Emily's love and beautiful personality were her family and close friends, who were always the focus of her life. She also had great energy and a fun-loving, flighty sense of humor.

Emily was born on October 13, 1948 to Lola and Charles Strom in Mason City, Iowa. She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa with her parents and her older sister, Karin. Emily graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa and attended college at Des Moines Area Community College and Augustana College. She met and married her late husband Dallas Eblen in Des Moines. They eventually moved to Davenport, Iowa where they lived for several years and had their only child, Charles Eblen (Charlie).

In 1985, Emily, Dallas and Charlie moved to Overland Park, Kansas, just after Charlie had finished kindergarten. During Charlie's school years, Emily's primary focus was being an amazing mom. To say that she succeeded would be a massive understatement. In those same years. Emily was also a PTA vice president in elementary, middle and high school, and held leadership positions with several charitable organizations (devoting considerable energy to Children's TLC).

For the past eleven and a half years, Emily's life had a singular focus: grandchildren! As Grandma, she always outdid herself:  constantly showering her three grandkids with love, home-cooked meals, holiday celebrations, sleepovers and some very memorable trips. They loved Grandma just as much as she loved them, and always will.

Emily will be deeply missed by many but forever remembered. She is survived by her son Charlie, his wife Allison, and their kids Eliza, Carson and Wesley; sister Karin Hanson; mother-in-law Juanita Eblen, brother-in-law Dennis Eblen and niece Marci Eblen; step-siblings Rae Malcolm, Scott Little, Steve Little and Kim Kastrul; and many other beloved relatives. Emily's parents, husband Dallas, step-mother Elizabeth Strom and brother-in-law Tom Hanson left this world before she did.

A celebration of Emily's life will be held on August 6th at 1 p.m. at the Sheraton Overland Park. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to KidsTLC in her name.