Albert Perez

Albert Perez, age 87, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Golden Hearts Home Care in Shawnee, Kansas, surrounded by his loved ones. Albert was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 11, 1937, the eighth of eleven children, to Alberto Perez and Maria Anaya. He attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School in Kansas City, Missouri, and briefly attended Redemptorist High School before dropping out to help support the family. One of the ways that Albert helped to support the family financially was by fulfilling his role on the mandolin in the Perez family music group. Self-taught on the instrument, he would delight in his later years whenever he picked it back up as if he hadn’t missed a beat.

He married Rosie Madrueno on December 31, 1954, and was drafted into the United States Army on January 22, 1960. Together they lived in Ft. Benning, Georgia where Albert received training as a radio operator and in emergency medical care. He also was an expert rifleman and vehicle operator. Albert took pride in chauffeuring the senior Army officers around the base. He served for two years and two months as a member of the 72nd Engineer Company, before receiving an Honorable Discharge in March 1962.

Albert worked for Goldblatt Tool Company as a warehouseman and forklift driver. The company was later acquired by Stanley Tool and that is the company from which Albert retired.

One of his proudest achievements in life was obtaining his GED and further pursuing his education in home inspection. Upon completion of that coursework, Albert felt compelled to begin a short-lived journey as an entrepreneur, starting A-1 Home Inspection.

Albert was an active member of St. Agnes Catholic Church for all his adult life, where he participated with the Men of St. Agnes each week. He was a member of the St. Agnes Social Concerns Committee. He was also a proud founder and supporter of their Hispanic Ministry. After participating in many weekend retreats, he felt called to join Fr. Pat Murphy in evangelizing the faith door-to-door in Spanish.

He was a fastidious gardener and lawn care provider. He could frequently be found spending hours in the care and upkeep of his yard. A sharp dresser and never one to look sloppy, Albert’s uniform for yard work and home maintenance always consisted of khakis and a polo shirt. Albert was known to be able to fix automobiles or anything around the house with “Perez ingenuity” and caused his grandchildren to remark “That’s ok, Popo will fix it.”

He was a huge personality and quite loquacious, often regaling family and friends with countless stories and providing hours of information, education and entertainment on topics as varied as the Catholic church and his faith to the right year to purchase a used car. He was known to support his favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs, by holding fun watch parties for family in his basement bar.

Together with his sister, Antonia, Albert would rent out a hall each year for the family to hold their Christmas party. Albert’s responsibility was always to purchase and fill the pinata and to find someone to fill the Santa Claus suit.

Albert was a generous man, always willing to offer whatever he had, however little at times, to others.  He also gave freely of his time, helping family and friends to troubleshoot and repair air conditioning units, thermostats, cars and anything else that could benefit from his expertise.  And he never expected anything in return (except that they heed his advice in upkeep and maintenance).

Albert was preceded in death by his parents, Alberto and Maria, as well as by his siblings, Rita, Humberto, Peter, Ascension and Antonia. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Rosie, and his children: his son, Arthur, and his daughters, Rita Jonscher (Robert III) and Anita Paredes (Bob). He leaves behind his four grandchildren: Xavier, Marissa, Tomas and Robert IV, as well as five siblings, countless nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends.

The family would like to thank owners, George and Pauline, and the entire day and night staff of Golden Hearts Home Care in Shawnee, Kansas, for the excellent care that they provided to Albert in the time that he was with them. They are forever part of the Perez family.

The family is also indebted to the many wonderful caregivers at Ascend Hospice that cared for our Albert, including the extraordinary support and frequent weekly updates provided to us by his primary nurse, Toya Nelson. We are also thankful for all the other hospice staff who came to visit and care for him.

A special thanks goes out to Erin Barrett from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee, Kansas, who dutifully brought Holy Communion to Albert each week and to Mary Gessler, a therapist who worked with Albert for a few months and who was a blessing to the family. And also to Amy Yeager, LMSW from the KU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center for visiting with us in our home for six months helping us to navigate this disease and giving us the tools we needed to help our father. We loved it when she came to visit.

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 16, 2025, at McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe, Overland Park, Kansas, from 6-8pm, with a rosary at 6pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5250 Mission Road, Roeland Park, Kansas, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 10am. Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, 8321 Quivira Road, Lenexa, Kansas 66215. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Little Sisters of the Lamb, 36 S. Boeke Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101.