Albert Lee Kerr

Al was born on June 13, 1941 to William Coble and Nellie Margaret (Scholpp) Kerr of Golden City, Missouri. They moved to Lockwood, Mo., where Albert attended Lockwood High School. He enjoyed playing football and basketball, running track and participating in Student Council, before graduating in 1959.

A brilliant math student, he attended Southwest Missouri State College for one year before transferring to the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (later known as University of Missouri - Rolla, then Missouri S&T) where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1964. He later went on to earn his Master of Civil Engineering degree from the University of Missouri in 1972.

Al married his hometown sweetheart Margaret Ann Hayes, on June 1, 1963, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lockwood. They were blessed with two daughters, Shannon Renee' and Kendall Leigh.

Al's career took the newlyweds first to North Dakota with USGS, then to Wichita and Seattle with Boeing. They spent time in Frankfort, Kentucky, before they finally made their way to Overland Park, Kan., when Al was hired by Lloyd Thorp.

Al worked for Bob D. Campbell & Co. then The Hollis & Miller Group before setting out on his own with Harper + Kerr. In 1975, he co-founded Kerr Conrad Graham Associates Consulting Engineers Inc., where Al served as CEO. The company was ultimately acquired by Walter P. Moore, from which Al retired in 2004.

Albert was inducted into the University of Missouri - Rolla's Academy of Civil Engineers in 1998 and was a Claghn of the Claddagh member of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh. He was active on the board of Professional Engineers in Private Practice, was chairman of the structural division of the Kansas City chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a lifetime member. Al was a member of the Civil Engineering Technology Advisory Board at Johnson County Community College, lectured to a University of Missouri - Rolla class on legal and business aspects of civil engineering, and received an honorary professional degree from his alma mater in 1997.

He was proud of many of his professional projects and accomplishments, but especially engineering the Sprint World Headquarters and Johnson County Community College. His work is seen in many buildings across the Kansas City metro and the country.

He had a passion for adventure and could often be found skiing or hiking in Colorado, biking, sailing, golfing or playing racquetball. He spent many weekends at Stockton Lake on his 30' O'Day, Kerageous, before he ventured to the Caribbean, the West Indies and to Veracruz. He and Margaret enjoyed annual trips to Cancun, an Alaskan adventure, cruising the Rhine and Danube rivers, and trips to Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and Puerto Rico, often joined by dear, lifelong friends or family. When at home, they played bridge with a regular crew monthly, hosted pool parties and tended their beautiful backyard oasis. In retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, attending their sporting events and music concerts, and sharing ice cream. He always had a project going, from home improvement - at his house or others - to his own artistic expression, and introducing his family to his extensive record collection.

Devout Lutherans, the Kerrs have been involved at Bethany Lutheran Church in Overland Park since 1967, where Al served on building committees and the Board of Property Management. He was also a huge supporter of Bethany Lutheran School, which several of his grandchildren attended. He was involved in the founding of the Lutheran High School of Kansas City (LHSKC) and continued to be a dedicated supporter of Lutheran education.

Albert is preceded in death by his parents, Coble and Nellie. He will be missed by his wife of 62 years, Margaret, his daughters Shannon Cambiano and Kendall Kerr (Jolan), grandchildren Abigail Hoover (Tucker), Allison Cambiano, Joseph and Jonah Smith, great-grandsons Joey Smith and Theodore Hoover, sister Shirley Birch (John), and mother-in-law Beatrice Hayes Roncovitts, as well as many cherished relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church, 9101 Lamar Avenue in Overland Park, on January 17, 2025. Please join us for a visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a service following at 11:00 a.m. Private interment will be attended by family at a later date.

Donations may be made to Bethany Lutheran School (https://bethanyschool.net/donate) or the Parkinson's Exercise and Wellness Center (https://www.thepewc.org/give), where he attended classes for several years and made many friends.