Paul Campbell Clendening, Sr.

Born in West Point, New York on May 9, 1946 to Herbert and Barbara Randebrock Clendening, Paul Campbell Clendening, Sr. grew up an Army brat. No matter where his family was stationed, Paul’s childhood was full of adventures and escapades that became the subject of family lore, especially his capers with his brother on the island of Guam. Along with his four siblings — Bill, Candy, Jane, and Laurie, Paul and his parents ultimately settled in Kansas, which began his lifelong devotion to the Kansas City community.

Paul attended Prairie Elementary School, Indian Hills Junior High School, and Shawnee Mission East High School, graduating in 1964; but it was the University of Kansas that truly shaped his future. There, Paul earned his degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies, cheered on his beloved Jayhawks as a Yell Leader, developed a deep dedication to the Crimson and Blue that he passed on to his children and grandchildren, and met his one and only true love Nancy Cole, beginning a nearly 50-year love affair.

After graduation from KU, Paul proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. He attended pilot training in Del Rio, TX, where — on October 14, 1969 — he and Nancy married in a small, private ceremony surrounded by only his fellow flight school classmates in their dress blues. Thereafter, Paul served as a weapons controller in the Philippines during the Vietnam War and was later stationed at McChord AFB in Washington, where he earned an MBA from Southern Illinois University.

In 1973, Paul returned to his beloved Kansas where he and Nancy settled in Prairie Village, and he had a successful 40-year career in banking. During that time, he bettered his community by mentoring countless young professionals and serving on many local philanthropic boards, most notably for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which was especially close to his heart after the death of his son Brandon in 1991. Paul also developed a program to address grief in the workplace through National Hospice and served as the CEO of Community Health Charities in Washington, D.C. for 3 years. A true “people person,” Paul relished establishing new relationships and nurturing old ones — both personal and professional. He never met a stranger, and a trip with Paul to any public place at anytime, anywhere was sure to involve multiple encounters and deep conversations with people Paul truly cherished and cared about.

In addition to the Jayhawks and Nancy, Paul loved golf, a hobby he first picked up in the Philippines. He spent three decades roaming the fairways (and rough) at Indian Hills Country Club, creating in the process lifelong friendships with his golf buddies and imparting on his children his affinity for the game and, more importantly, his life lessons.

Above all things, Paul was a loving, devoted, and engaged father and grandfather. As a father of 3 and “Papa” of 6, he delighted in creating time-honored family traditions and memories, especially at Christmastime. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” will forever ring through the households of generations to come on Christmas morning, and he will always be affectionately known amongst family members as “Clark Griswold” because of his silly, fun-loving sense of humor and light-heartedness. He coached countless sports teams, coining the family-favorite phrase “you don’t score if you don’t shoot,” assumed various identities during playtime adventures with kids, and will be forever remembered by his family and all who knew him for his hearty and easy laughter.

Paul passed away on November 11, 2018 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by his wife Nancy of Overland Park, KS, his son Paul Clendening Jr. (Wendy) of Fort Mill, SC, his daughter Elizabeth Krueger (Kyle) of Overland Park, KS, his six grandchildren: Cole, Luke and Ben Clendening and Emma, Evan and Liam Krueger, and his siblings: Bill Clendening of Grain Valley, MO, Candy Clendening of Overland Park, KS, Jane Clendening of Denver, CO, and Lauren Clendening of Overland Park, KS. He is also survived by his stepsisters Jill O’Connor of Overland Park, KS and June Schiff of Denver, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Barbara Randebrock Clendening, his stepmother Pauline Pettegrew Clendening, and his son Brandon Clendening.

The family would like to thank Dr. Peter Holt, Jerry Pullins of SeniorCare Homes and all of the loving staff of Waveny and Ted Hersey houses along with the staff of Kansas City Hospice House for their outstanding care of Paul.

Please join the family for a celebration of Paul’s life Sunday November 18, 2018 from 1 to 4pm at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66212. There will be a Moment of Memory held at 2pm to honor and toast Paul’s life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to KC Hospice House, Alzheimer’s Association, or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.