Frank "Chip" Newcomer III

Frank (“Chip”) Newcomer III died peacefully with his family by his side on December 16th.

Chip was born in Kansas City in 1942, where he lived his entire life. In his youth he was an athlete, an Eagle Scout, and loved racing his modified 1956 Chevy Bel Air at the Kansas City Drag Strip. He graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School then attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and Phi Epsilon Phi Men’s Honor Society. During a sabbatical from his studies, he joined the US Marine Corps, from which he was eventually honorably discharged. He returned to the University of Colorado and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business before joining the family funeral business, DW Newcomer’s Sons.

In 1965, he married Becky Bradley, his high school and college sweetheart. A few years later, they welcomed their daughter, Courtney, and shortly thereafter, their son, Trent. During this time, Chip moved with his family to Lake Quivira, Kansas, where he lived for the remainder of his life. There, he spent his free time coaching his kids’ soccer teams and supporting them in their other activities. He also loved playing tennis and participating in other activities around the lake, while continuing to work on his cars and remodel his house. His favorite vacations involved sailing and skiing with family and friends. In 1990, he and Becky purchased Twin Mill Farms, a horse boarding stable in Shawnee, where they enjoyed working together on an unending list of new projects. After retiring, Chip and Becky built a house in the mountains of Colorado where they loved visiting and welcoming family and friends.

In addition to being the president of DW Newcomer’s Sons, Chip was very active in the Greater Kansas City Community: Kansas City Eye Bank – Founding Director, Treasurer, Vice President, and President; Children’s TLC – Advisor, Director, Treasurer, Honorary Director; Big Brothers/Big Sisters – Director and Secretary; Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers – Founding Director; Camps 4 Kids – Director; Lake Quivira Country Club – Director, Volunteer Firefighter; Mercantile Bank and Trust – Director; TradeWind Energy – Director; First National Bank of Lenexa – Advisory Director; Young Presidents Organization – Member.

Throughout his life, Chip was loved and respected by his friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and was known especially for his intelligence, kindness, and honesty.  He was constantly learning and loved tinkering, fixing, and building things.  He was the guy who could fix anything, but he always had a special interest in cars.  He was an avid reader, tennis player, sailor, skier, traveler, and cyclist.  Most of all, he loved spending time with his family, and he took great joy in their accomplishments and happiness.

Chip is preceded in death by his wife, Becky.  He is survived by daughter Courtney Nelson (John); son Trent (Kara); grandchildren Nick and Britton Nelson, Bradyn and Holdyn Kawcak, and Taryn Jones; and siblings Pete Newcomer and Bet Brown.

A celebration of life will be held at the clubhouse at Lake Quivira Country Club on Friday, February 3rd from 5-7:30pm.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to a charity of your choosing.