John Michael Reedy

John Reedy, 67, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed into eternal life on January 25, 2019, lovingly surrounded by his wife and two children. His stoic struggle with gastric cancer that he chronicled with humor and hope was an inspiration to those who cheered him on in his fight.

John was a devoted son, husband, father and grandfather, as well as a source of smiles, jokes and positivity for everyone he met.

He was born on Friday the 13th, in April 1951 to Mitchell and Phyllis Reedy in Springfield, Ohio. Despite the ominous birthdate, he lived his life without fear, and with a genuine zest for life that was nothing short of inspiring.

He met the love of his life, Laura, during spring break in 1972 in Daytona Beach, Florida; proposed to her in 1979 after an episode of Mork & Mindy; and married her three months later.

John earned an engineering degree at General Motors Institute (Kettering) and an MBA at the University of Michigan. After 12 years with Arthur Andersen & Co. in Kansas City and Los Angeles, John was the 285th associate at Cerner in Kansas City, serving as Vice President of Administration for 10 years. Following Cerner, he was an HR leader at Accenture and the COO of PeakVision Sports. While his professional accomplishments were impressive, his legacy will be of a personal life well lived and a family he loved more than anything.

John was an active member of the Church of the Resurrection, the KMA softball team’s pitcher of 27 years, and a former rocker, serving as the bassist for the Five Pak, Springfield, Ohio’s finest rock band in the 1960s. He was kind to everyone he met and was quietly and consistently charitable. A self-proclaimed “serial dabbler,” John had a natural curiosity for interests as small as tumbling rocks to as great as space travel. He devoted himself to an endless series of pursuits including practicing the bass guitar, playing tennis, building and launching rockets, collecting coins, hats, and Hard Rock pins, and photography. John also stayed actively involved with his GMI Fiji fraternity brothers over the years, organizing regular reunions that spanned four decades.

John had a love of travel and gave his family the world, figuratively and literally. From cruising with Laura across several continents, going on a photo safari in Kenya and taking trips to Egypt, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Italy, Switzerland, Tahiti, Hawaii and England to accompanying Sarah on work trips to Iceland, Dublin, France and Spain to taking Matthew to Machu Picchu, a cross-country tour of Major League Baseball stadiums and attending Royals Fantasy baseball camp together to countless trips to Disneyland, Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Disneyland Hong Kong, John did it all. He saw the Northern Lights, went scuba diving, skydived, drove a NASCAR stock car, visited Alaskan glaciers by helicopter and, most importantly, enjoyed life with his family.

John was the quintessential father and BaPa. He was always available to listen, offer advice – or more often, a joke – when needed, and was steadfast in his support. Nothing made him happier than making his loved ones happy. His pride in his family is something they will always hold dear. He will be remembered – always – for his quick wit and kind heart.

The world was a better place with John it, but his memory will live on with every lunar eclipse, new commemorative state quarter, Bare Naked Ladies song on the radio and in the hearts of his family and friends, to whom he meant so much.

John is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Laura; children Matthew (Abby) Reedy and Sarah (Joe) Thomas; grandchildren Michael and Andrew Thomas; and sister, Cynthia Vazquez (Phil Brown), in-laws Sue and Bruce Brower, Mark and Debbie Skelly, and nieces, nephews and their children.

Services to celebrate John’s life will be held on Saturday, February 2, at 10:30 a.m. in the Wesley Chapel at the Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66224. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, PO Box 26147, Overland Park, KS, 66225 or the First Hand Foundation, 2800 Rockcreek Parkway, KC, MO 64117.