1989
Travis
2014
Travis Wiedenkeller
January 8, 1989 — November 22, 2014
Travis Donald Wiedenkeller, of Kansas City, Missouri, beloved son of Anne & Keith Wiedenkeller and big brother to sister Lakisha Wiedenkeller, died unexpectedly – and way too young – on November 22, 2014. He blessed this planet, his family, and his friends for just under 26 years.
Travis was born on January 8th, 1989, and shared his birthday with several other greats, but was especially fond of having that special day in common with “The King,” Elvis Presley.
He was a bear of man, nicknamed “Grizzly” by his college friends for his size and ferocity on the football field, and his beard, which he cultivated to various lengths and styles over the years, and about which he was extremely proud. In fact, he even changed his Facebook handle to “Beardman.”
Though a big man, Travis was tender and loving, and cared for nothing so much as a good hug, or just draping one of his huge arms over your shoulders. He also loved animals and brought several to a new home with his Kansas City family.
Those who knew Travis well loved him for the twinkle in his eye and his fabulous – sometimes mischievous – sense of humor. Even last week in the hospital, when he complained that he was “hot,” and the nurse agreed that he “looked hot,” without missing a beat, Travis simply said “thank you.’’
As might be expected, Travis was an exceptional athlete, playing several sports in his youth, including baseball, basketball, soccer, and wrestling, before finally settling into football … at which he excelled. He started in 8th grade, playing for the Visitation CYO league team, then in high school at Shawnee Mission East, and attended Benedictine College on a football scholarship, where he studied law enforcement. He enjoyed pushing his physical limits, setting several weight room records both at SME and Benedictine, and liked nothing more than being allowed to “go after” the quarterback.
Ironically, some of his favorite courses in high school and college were related to English literature (due in part to several wonderful teachers at SME), and always had a passion for a good story (he was especially good at inventing outrageous stories of his own simply to push people’s buttons … especially his parents). This passion for storytelling also manifested in a huge love of movies. He loved anything with Johnny Depp, but was not particularly discriminating in his theatrical tastes. Fortunately, due to his dad’s employer, Travis was able to exercise his movie-going passion to the fullest, seeing his favorite films several, if not dozens, of times.
Having spent part of his youth in Tarpon Springs, Florida, Travis learned to love the outdoors, especially the beach. And later in life, he always preferred working outdoors to indoors, especially if those pursuits entailed working with his hands, creating several imaginative woodworking “projects” in his parent’s back yard and his father’s shop.
Though he studied Law Enforcement, at Benedictine, after college, Travis worked in several service jobs, including AMC Theatres and Standees in Prairie Village, as well as numerous construction-related jobs. He was still “finding his path,” when he was tragically taken from us last Saturday, but was pursuing a possible football coaching opportunity.
Though “eclectic” in his spiritual beliefs, Travis was raised in the Lutheran Church, and always treasured his various church families… even if he usually treasured sleeping in on Sundays more! In his later years, he had many questions, and struggled with several personal and spiritual issues.
But above all else, Travis loved his family. From the age of three, he took on the role of “guardian big brother” to his beautiful sister, Lakisha, and remained the proudest of big brothers over the years. Some of his favorite memories were of holidays and vacations with extended family. He reveled in wrestling with his dad, which often ended in Travis simply tossing his dad over his shoulder. And he always had a special relationship with his mother, giving her hugs that lifted her off her feet, and never failing to throw her a big kiss upon exiting the house, accompanied by a loud “mu-ahh!”
Travis was preceded in death by several family members who impacted his life, including: great grandmother, Christel Hasbrook; grandparents, Max & Margaret Carr; grandfather, Donald Wiedenkeller; step-grandfather, Eldon Jansen; great aunt, Esther Bissell; and cousin, Jay Wiedenkeller.
He leaves behind numerous family members upon whom he had a lasting impact, including: parents, Keith & Anne Wiedenkeller; sister, Lakisha; grandmother, Barbara Jansen / Gimlin; “grandparents” Mose and Alertha Wright; great uncle, Roy Heisler; aunts and uncles, Leigh Ann & Scott Morris, Kurt Wiedenkeller, Max & Karen Carr, Jonathan Carr & Maria Acero, “aunt” Jerri Bunn; and cousins, Andrea Warren, Jackie Carr, Ryan, Evan & Nolan Morris, Logan & Lee Wiedenkeller, Falecia Parker, Victor Acero, Alison Doerr, and Kym Wiedenkeller, Steve Rosen & Alice Bissell, and special friend, Samantha “Sam” Tavernero.
Travis’ early departure has left a hole in our lives that can never be filled. We will miss you so much, beautiful boy.
Memorial services for Travis will be held at First Lutheran Church, 6400 State Line Road, in Mission Hills, KS, 66208, on Saturday, November 29, at 2 p.m., with a reception immediately following in the church fellowship hall. Inurnment of ashes will take place at a later date in a private ceremony at Johnson County Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, Travis would want tax-free donations made in his name to the Shawnee Mission Education Fund, 7235 Antioch, Shawnee Mission, KS 66205; which has been established to benefit the athletic programs at Shawnee Mission East high school, or the Harmony Foundation, an addiction treatment center in Estes Park Colorado (http://www.harmonyfoundationinc.com/).
Travis was born on January 8th, 1989, and shared his birthday with several other greats, but was especially fond of having that special day in common with “The King,” Elvis Presley.
He was a bear of man, nicknamed “Grizzly” by his college friends for his size and ferocity on the football field, and his beard, which he cultivated to various lengths and styles over the years, and about which he was extremely proud. In fact, he even changed his Facebook handle to “Beardman.”
Though a big man, Travis was tender and loving, and cared for nothing so much as a good hug, or just draping one of his huge arms over your shoulders. He also loved animals and brought several to a new home with his Kansas City family.
Those who knew Travis well loved him for the twinkle in his eye and his fabulous – sometimes mischievous – sense of humor. Even last week in the hospital, when he complained that he was “hot,” and the nurse agreed that he “looked hot,” without missing a beat, Travis simply said “thank you.’’
As might be expected, Travis was an exceptional athlete, playing several sports in his youth, including baseball, basketball, soccer, and wrestling, before finally settling into football … at which he excelled. He started in 8th grade, playing for the Visitation CYO league team, then in high school at Shawnee Mission East, and attended Benedictine College on a football scholarship, where he studied law enforcement. He enjoyed pushing his physical limits, setting several weight room records both at SME and Benedictine, and liked nothing more than being allowed to “go after” the quarterback.
Ironically, some of his favorite courses in high school and college were related to English literature (due in part to several wonderful teachers at SME), and always had a passion for a good story (he was especially good at inventing outrageous stories of his own simply to push people’s buttons … especially his parents). This passion for storytelling also manifested in a huge love of movies. He loved anything with Johnny Depp, but was not particularly discriminating in his theatrical tastes. Fortunately, due to his dad’s employer, Travis was able to exercise his movie-going passion to the fullest, seeing his favorite films several, if not dozens, of times.
Having spent part of his youth in Tarpon Springs, Florida, Travis learned to love the outdoors, especially the beach. And later in life, he always preferred working outdoors to indoors, especially if those pursuits entailed working with his hands, creating several imaginative woodworking “projects” in his parent’s back yard and his father’s shop.
Though he studied Law Enforcement, at Benedictine, after college, Travis worked in several service jobs, including AMC Theatres and Standees in Prairie Village, as well as numerous construction-related jobs. He was still “finding his path,” when he was tragically taken from us last Saturday, but was pursuing a possible football coaching opportunity.
Though “eclectic” in his spiritual beliefs, Travis was raised in the Lutheran Church, and always treasured his various church families… even if he usually treasured sleeping in on Sundays more! In his later years, he had many questions, and struggled with several personal and spiritual issues.
But above all else, Travis loved his family. From the age of three, he took on the role of “guardian big brother” to his beautiful sister, Lakisha, and remained the proudest of big brothers over the years. Some of his favorite memories were of holidays and vacations with extended family. He reveled in wrestling with his dad, which often ended in Travis simply tossing his dad over his shoulder. And he always had a special relationship with his mother, giving her hugs that lifted her off her feet, and never failing to throw her a big kiss upon exiting the house, accompanied by a loud “mu-ahh!”
Travis was preceded in death by several family members who impacted his life, including: great grandmother, Christel Hasbrook; grandparents, Max & Margaret Carr; grandfather, Donald Wiedenkeller; step-grandfather, Eldon Jansen; great aunt, Esther Bissell; and cousin, Jay Wiedenkeller.
He leaves behind numerous family members upon whom he had a lasting impact, including: parents, Keith & Anne Wiedenkeller; sister, Lakisha; grandmother, Barbara Jansen / Gimlin; “grandparents” Mose and Alertha Wright; great uncle, Roy Heisler; aunts and uncles, Leigh Ann & Scott Morris, Kurt Wiedenkeller, Max & Karen Carr, Jonathan Carr & Maria Acero, “aunt” Jerri Bunn; and cousins, Andrea Warren, Jackie Carr, Ryan, Evan & Nolan Morris, Logan & Lee Wiedenkeller, Falecia Parker, Victor Acero, Alison Doerr, and Kym Wiedenkeller, Steve Rosen & Alice Bissell, and special friend, Samantha “Sam” Tavernero.
Travis’ early departure has left a hole in our lives that can never be filled. We will miss you so much, beautiful boy.
Memorial services for Travis will be held at First Lutheran Church, 6400 State Line Road, in Mission Hills, KS, 66208, on Saturday, November 29, at 2 p.m., with a reception immediately following in the church fellowship hall. Inurnment of ashes will take place at a later date in a private ceremony at Johnson County Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, Travis would want tax-free donations made in his name to the Shawnee Mission Education Fund, 7235 Antioch, Shawnee Mission, KS 66205; which has been established to benefit the athletic programs at Shawnee Mission East high school, or the Harmony Foundation, an addiction treatment center in Estes Park Colorado (http://www.harmonyfoundationinc.com/).
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