Serean Joyce Borcherding

Serean Joyce Borcherding, 80; loving mother, sister, wife, friend, and teacher passed away peacefully with her family at her side on October 17, 2022, after a long struggle with multiple medical challenges.

Serean was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 16, 1942, to Ernest Adam and Anna Serean “Dorothy” Griesel. Her family moved to Kansas City when Serean was a small girl. She was raised in KC and graduated from Paseo High School in 1960. She attended the University of Kansas and studied in the Art Department, graduating in 1964 with a BA degree in Art Education. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority where she met many life-long friends. She encouraged many family members and friends to join ADPi as well.

Serean was a skilled and successful art teacher in the Olathe, Atchison, and Shawnee Mission, Kansas school districts – spending over 20 years with the Shawnee Mission School District art department.

Outside of work, Serean was an accomplished artist with a large portfolio of wonderful artwork. She thought in color, hue, tint, tone value, and arrangement. She put any project together, making it seem effortless, because it was always a labor of love. Most everyone she ever knew has a piece of her artwork. For each recipient, these pieces will be a remembrance of Serean’s amazing talent.

Serean supported all she knew, striving to make others’ lives more beautiful, artful, and pleasant. She was everyone’s sunshine.

In 1964, Serean married Larry Borcherding whom she met at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. From a foundation as life-long friends of more than 65 years, they built a marriage lasting over 58 years. Serean and Larry were blessed with two sons; Doug and Mark, who were the light of her life. Doug and his wife Jane have three wonderful daughters: Rachel and her husband Grant Spicer; Audrey a junior at Iowa State University; and Anna a freshman at the University of Arkansas. Mark has one very well-traveled and accomplished son, Drew, a senior at the University of Kansas.

Serean was a marvelous cook and the best mom ever. She had a knack for homemaking, entertaining and decorating which always seemed so natural, beautiful and all of it done with love. Serean loved her family’s 40 years’ worth of escapes to The Lake of the Ozarks where she enjoyed fishing, water sports, boating, entertaining, and relaxing.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Memorial Fund, 9100 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS 66206; Phone: (913) 647-0438 / email: [email protected] or The Shawnee Mission Educational Foundation, 8200 W. 71st Street, Shawnee Mission, KS 66204; Phone: (913) 993-9360 / email: [email protected]

Serean is survived by her husband of 58 years, Larry A. Borcherding; her son Douglas W. Borcherding (Jane); her son Mark A. Borcherding (Jessica); her four grandchildren who she dearly loves; Rachel Spicer (Grant), Drew Borcherding, Audrey Borcherding, and Anna Borcherding, and her sister Shirley Monahan (Michael).

Serean was preceded in death by her parents, Ernie, and Dorothy Griesel, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Serean will be sorely missed by her family, friends, and acquaintances. But her warmth, smile, generous spirit, and laughter will always be in our hearts.

Serean’s visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. on November 12th, 2022, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 2:00 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (9100 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66206)