1929
Norman
2016
Norman Gaar
September 29, 1929 — May 27, 2016
Norman Edward Gaar
Norman Edward Gaar of Leawood, KS, died at Kansas City Hospice House, KCMO, on May 27, 2016.
Mr. Gaar was born on September 29, 1929, into the family of the William Edward (d. 1934) and Lola Eugene Gaar, nee McKain 12/3/01-3/11/1964).
Mr. Gaar was a decorated Korean War Veteran, an accomplished attorney in municipal and state finance, member and majority leader of the Kansas Senate, and a member of the Mic-O-Say Tribe, Order of the Arrow, Life Scouts.
Mr. Gaar attended South East High School (class of 1947), where he excelled both in athletics and scholastics. During his two years at Baker College, he pledged the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and joined the Aviation Midshipmen Program of the United States Navy.
After receiving his wings, Norman served on the aircraft carrier Valley Forge in the VF111 Squadron and flew 88 missions over Korea in an F9F Panther. His Korean War decorations include the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, two Air Medals, four Battle Stars, a U.S. Presidential Unit Citation and a Letter of Commendation (Combat V). He concluded his service teaching instruments to conscripted WWII pilots at San Diego Naval Air Station (later called Top Gun).
Discharged from active duty in 1953, Mr. Gaar married Joanne Rupert and was accepted at the University of Michigan. Funded by the Navy Aviator Midshipmen Program, he was awarded his Bachelor’s (1955) and Juris Doctorate (1956) degrees. After completing his education, he returned to Kansas City, settled in Westwood, and raised four children.
Mr. Gaar ranked among the nation’s leading municipal finance attorneys. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court; the KS Supreme, US District, and US Bankruptcy Courts; as well a both US District and US Bankruptcy Courts in MO. Mr. Gaar was a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Bond Counsels, a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, a charter member of the California Association of Bond Lawyers, a faculty member of the New York Practicing Law Institute and listed in the “Red Book” of Bond Buyers for over 45 years.
In a legal career covering almost sixty years, Mr. Gaar wrote opinions on billions of dollars of public financing in the Mid-Western states and California. In 1956, Mr. Gaar joined Stinson, Mag & Fizzell. where he was a partner for twenty years. The late Robert Fizzell was his mentor in state and municipal finance. In 1979, he and the late Don Bell founded Gaar & Bell, where he was managing partner. He joined the Los Angeles firm of Burke, William Sorensen and Gaar as senior partner in 1987. In 1996, he joined McDowell, Rice Smith and Gaar. In 2004, he founded Gaar Buxbaum and Roth (2004). Since 2007, he’s been Of-Counsel with Douthit, Frets, Rouse Gentile & Rhodes.
Mr. Gaar served his state and community as municipal judge, Mayor of Westwood, and Kansas State Senator (6th District) for twenty years, four of which he was majority leader. His tenure was characterized by working across party lines with fellow urban senators (Democrat), whose districts shared Johnson County’s problems. His work in the Senate included legislation to improve air quality in Kansas; to protect the K-State Vet School by breaking out its budget from that of the University; to end back-alley abortions by de-criminalizing this medical procedure; to pass enabling legislation for Johnson County Community College; and to oppose the death penalty because “you can get just as much justice as you can afford.” In 1980, he was defeated by Nancy Landon Kassabaum in the Republican Pimary race for the US Senate.
Mr. Gaar was active in both the Antique Aircraft and the Experimental Aircraft Associations. He rebuilt a Ryan PT 22 Army Trainer, a Steen Skybolt Biplane, a Rotorway Exec Helicopter, and began restoration of a Mark IX Supermarine Spitfire. He owned and flew several other general aviation aircraft for pleasure and in business. He was an avid Ham Radio operator for much of his life: WODEZ, and enjoyed Upland Game hunting, boating and skiing.
Norman Gaar is survived by his wife of thirty years, Marilyn Audrey Gaar, nee Wiegraffe, and four children: Anne E. Vohs of Salida, CO; James Rupert Gaar and wife Cathy Lea of Lone Jack, MO; William Edward Gaar and wife Lauren of Lake Oswego, OR; and John Lawrence Gaar and wife Jean Elizabeth of Leawood, KS; and their mother Joanne Maurine Gaar, nee Rupert. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Aryelle Nicole and Chance Michael Vohs; Ashlee Rae Gaar, Erin James Schmidt, Emily Elizabeth, Dylan Holmes, Andrew Lawrence, and Peter Allen Gaar.
Services are 2 PM, Saturday, June 4, at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens. Internment is at 2.30 pm. Reception and ”Storming Norman Stories Hour” is at ~3.15 PM.
Norman Edward Gaar of Leawood, KS, died at Kansas City Hospice House, KCMO, on May 27, 2016.
Mr. Gaar was born on September 29, 1929, into the family of the William Edward (d. 1934) and Lola Eugene Gaar, nee McKain 12/3/01-3/11/1964).
Mr. Gaar was a decorated Korean War Veteran, an accomplished attorney in municipal and state finance, member and majority leader of the Kansas Senate, and a member of the Mic-O-Say Tribe, Order of the Arrow, Life Scouts.
Mr. Gaar attended South East High School (class of 1947), where he excelled both in athletics and scholastics. During his two years at Baker College, he pledged the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and joined the Aviation Midshipmen Program of the United States Navy.
After receiving his wings, Norman served on the aircraft carrier Valley Forge in the VF111 Squadron and flew 88 missions over Korea in an F9F Panther. His Korean War decorations include the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, two Air Medals, four Battle Stars, a U.S. Presidential Unit Citation and a Letter of Commendation (Combat V). He concluded his service teaching instruments to conscripted WWII pilots at San Diego Naval Air Station (later called Top Gun).
Discharged from active duty in 1953, Mr. Gaar married Joanne Rupert and was accepted at the University of Michigan. Funded by the Navy Aviator Midshipmen Program, he was awarded his Bachelor’s (1955) and Juris Doctorate (1956) degrees. After completing his education, he returned to Kansas City, settled in Westwood, and raised four children.
Mr. Gaar ranked among the nation’s leading municipal finance attorneys. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court; the KS Supreme, US District, and US Bankruptcy Courts; as well a both US District and US Bankruptcy Courts in MO. Mr. Gaar was a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Bond Counsels, a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, a charter member of the California Association of Bond Lawyers, a faculty member of the New York Practicing Law Institute and listed in the “Red Book” of Bond Buyers for over 45 years.
In a legal career covering almost sixty years, Mr. Gaar wrote opinions on billions of dollars of public financing in the Mid-Western states and California. In 1956, Mr. Gaar joined Stinson, Mag & Fizzell. where he was a partner for twenty years. The late Robert Fizzell was his mentor in state and municipal finance. In 1979, he and the late Don Bell founded Gaar & Bell, where he was managing partner. He joined the Los Angeles firm of Burke, William Sorensen and Gaar as senior partner in 1987. In 1996, he joined McDowell, Rice Smith and Gaar. In 2004, he founded Gaar Buxbaum and Roth (2004). Since 2007, he’s been Of-Counsel with Douthit, Frets, Rouse Gentile & Rhodes.
Mr. Gaar served his state and community as municipal judge, Mayor of Westwood, and Kansas State Senator (6th District) for twenty years, four of which he was majority leader. His tenure was characterized by working across party lines with fellow urban senators (Democrat), whose districts shared Johnson County’s problems. His work in the Senate included legislation to improve air quality in Kansas; to protect the K-State Vet School by breaking out its budget from that of the University; to end back-alley abortions by de-criminalizing this medical procedure; to pass enabling legislation for Johnson County Community College; and to oppose the death penalty because “you can get just as much justice as you can afford.” In 1980, he was defeated by Nancy Landon Kassabaum in the Republican Pimary race for the US Senate.
Mr. Gaar was active in both the Antique Aircraft and the Experimental Aircraft Associations. He rebuilt a Ryan PT 22 Army Trainer, a Steen Skybolt Biplane, a Rotorway Exec Helicopter, and began restoration of a Mark IX Supermarine Spitfire. He owned and flew several other general aviation aircraft for pleasure and in business. He was an avid Ham Radio operator for much of his life: WODEZ, and enjoyed Upland Game hunting, boating and skiing.
Norman Gaar is survived by his wife of thirty years, Marilyn Audrey Gaar, nee Wiegraffe, and four children: Anne E. Vohs of Salida, CO; James Rupert Gaar and wife Cathy Lea of Lone Jack, MO; William Edward Gaar and wife Lauren of Lake Oswego, OR; and John Lawrence Gaar and wife Jean Elizabeth of Leawood, KS; and their mother Joanne Maurine Gaar, nee Rupert. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Aryelle Nicole and Chance Michael Vohs; Ashlee Rae Gaar, Erin James Schmidt, Emily Elizabeth, Dylan Holmes, Andrew Lawrence, and Peter Allen Gaar.
Services are 2 PM, Saturday, June 4, at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens. Internment is at 2.30 pm. Reception and ”Storming Norman Stories Hour” is at ~3.15 PM.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Norman Gaar, please visit our flower store.