Jake Lynch

Jake Lynch, beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 19, 2025, after a courageous battle with complications following cancer treatment. He was 44.

A lifelong resident of Kansas City, Jake was a proud graduate of Rockhurst High School, where — in true Jake fashion — he formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. He later attended Regis University in Denver before returning home to Kansas City, the community he loved most.

Jake married the love of his life, Suzanne Elizabeth “Betsy” Sharp. He had finally found a girl who liked Charlie Hooper’s as much as he did and together they built a beautiful family. Their marriage was only interrupted by football season. While Jake was a devout Catholic, football was also a religion in his home. He could never be found missing a Chiefs game and will always be the biggest Raider Hater in town. Few things could make him prouder than watching his sons become linebackers just like his father, whom he idolized.

He is survived by Betsy and their three children, Jimmy, Kathy Madge, and Billy, who were the pride and joy of his life. If his daughter was the apple of his eye, his boys were his heart and soul. Jake’s greatest happiness came from being a devoted husband and father, and he poured his heart into every moment with his family.

A lifelong member of Visitation Parish, Jake lived his faith through warmth, kindness, and an extraordinary ability to make every person he met feel like an old friend. Whether running into someone he’d met once years ago or greeting a familiar face from across the room, Jake’s joy in reconnecting was genuine and contagious. He truly never met a stranger — only friends he hadn’t seen in a while.

Jake was also known for his love of cooking, particularly barbecue. An excellent chef and enthusiastic meat smoker, he turned meals into memories, bringing people together around good food and laughter — a perfect reflection of his generous spirit.

He is survived by his wife and children; his mother, Georgia Lynch; his sisters, Megan Webber (Brian) and Kara Ciocca (Doug); and his cherished nieces and nephews, Morgan, Matthew, Nate, Benjamin, Mia and Hailey. Jake was preceded in death by his father, James Lynch, and his sister, Grace Lynch.

Jake’s final months were marked by extraordinary love and devotion from those closest to him. His family and friends surrounded him with care — from nights spent at the hospital to helping with the children and providing meals — a testament to the countless lives he touched and the deep bonds he built.

There will be a Visitation at McGilley State Line Chapel at 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO from 5:00-8:00pm on Monday October 27, 2025. A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday October 28, 2025 at 10:00am at Visitation Catholic Church located at 5141 Main Street in Kansas City, MO with a burial to follow at the Forest Hill Calvary Cemetery. A celebration of Jake’s life will be held at Charlie Hooper’s located at 12 W. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64113 following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Rockhurst High School in Jake’s name. His family wishes to establish a scholarship fund to help provide special education services to students at Rockhurst High School. Donations may be made online at https://www.rockhursths.edu/giving/memorialtribute-gifts.

Jake will be remembered for his boundless warmth, his laughter, his strength, and the way he made every person feel truly seen. His love lives on in the countless people who were lucky enough to know him — and most of all, in the family he adored. His legacy will live on in the beautiful children God created with a little piece of him in each of them.