1920
L.
2009
L. Shontz
January 16, 1920 — January 27, 2009
L. Allan Shontz died peacefully in his sleep on January 27, 2009. Allan was born on January 16, 1920, in Jerome, Iowa, to Loran and Jennie Shontz, and attended a one-room school house at 5 years of age. One year later the family relocated to the Blue Valley area of Kansas City, Mo., and they moved several times due to flooding. Allan attended the KC public schools, graduating from Paseo High School, and was an Eagle scout. He was awarded a degree in electrical engineering from KU and married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Brandt, in 1941. Allan entered the Navy as a lieutenant and trained in radar for one year at Harvard and MIT, with wartime duty in Portsmouth, N.H., on submarine radar. After WW II, he returned to KC and worked at Vendo Co. in research and development. He fathered five children, raised them in Raytown, and was actively involved in volunteer work. In addition to career and family, he built two homes with his father and completed his MBA from UMKC. The second chapter of Allan's life began in 1973 with his marriage to Lillian Heine Kemper. His new blended family included three more children. Allan founded TelCon Associates of St. Louis, a telecommunications consulting firm, when he was 56. He retired in 1993 and enjoyed several years of international travel. We will always remember his funny songs, his cheerful whistle, his delight in KU basketball, his love of ice cream and his signature stocking cap.
Please join us in the celebration of life at the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2009, located at 7725 W. 87th St., Overland Park, Kan.
Allan is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Vivian Soraci. He is survived by his wife, Lillian, of the home at Lakeview Village in Lenexa; his children Anne (Mike) Fenner of Omaha, Philip (NiuNiu Su) Shontz of Chicago, Nancy (Mike) Hollingsworth of Roeland Park, Jennifer Shontz of Seattle, Marilyn (Tom) Kuehn of Lee's Summit, Julia Carrel of Overland Park, Robert (Rebecca Ehrich) Kemper of Gladstone and Kathleen (Edmund) Bishop of Denville, N.J.; 17 grandchildren, Hilary Dessousky, Benjamin Fenner, Natasha Stevenson, Leyla Hollingsworth, Lisa Hollingsworth, Lennon Hinch, Kansuke Miyanaga, Lauren Inness, Scott Williams, Kyle Williams, Jonathon Kuehn, Steven Kuehn, Jonathan Carrel, Michelle Carrel, Cristina Kemper, Daniel Bishop and Rachel Bishop; seven great grandchildren, Yangdon, Kalden, Lyle, Alexandra, Kayla, Madelyn, Damon and Kekoa; his sister Evelyn Clouser of Raytown, and nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Alzheimer's Association, Ethical Society of St. Louis or Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church. The family would like to thank KU Medical Center and Lakeview Village for their compassion and dedication to the service to others.
Please join us in the celebration of life at the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2009, located at 7725 W. 87th St., Overland Park, Kan.
Allan is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Vivian Soraci. He is survived by his wife, Lillian, of the home at Lakeview Village in Lenexa; his children Anne (Mike) Fenner of Omaha, Philip (NiuNiu Su) Shontz of Chicago, Nancy (Mike) Hollingsworth of Roeland Park, Jennifer Shontz of Seattle, Marilyn (Tom) Kuehn of Lee's Summit, Julia Carrel of Overland Park, Robert (Rebecca Ehrich) Kemper of Gladstone and Kathleen (Edmund) Bishop of Denville, N.J.; 17 grandchildren, Hilary Dessousky, Benjamin Fenner, Natasha Stevenson, Leyla Hollingsworth, Lisa Hollingsworth, Lennon Hinch, Kansuke Miyanaga, Lauren Inness, Scott Williams, Kyle Williams, Jonathon Kuehn, Steven Kuehn, Jonathan Carrel, Michelle Carrel, Cristina Kemper, Daniel Bishop and Rachel Bishop; seven great grandchildren, Yangdon, Kalden, Lyle, Alexandra, Kayla, Madelyn, Damon and Kekoa; his sister Evelyn Clouser of Raytown, and nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Alzheimer's Association, Ethical Society of St. Louis or Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church. The family would like to thank KU Medical Center and Lakeview Village for their compassion and dedication to the service to others.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of L. Shontz, please visit our flower store.