Jeanne Whyte Shopen

Born in and a resident of Kansas City until this year, Jeanne descended from pioneers and entrepreneurs. Her great grandfather, Ebenezer Whyte, Senior, who emigrated from Scotland, founded the first chain of grocery stores in the city, the E. Whyte Grocery, Fruit and Wine Company, or the Whyco stores. Her grandfather, Milton A. Wengert, founded the Wengert Hardware Company, which, according to family lore, had provided hardware for the Union Station.

Jeanne herself was an entrepreneur. Mentors Lewin Donaldson and Ione North, her great friend, included her as a partner in Kansas City’s first estate sale business. Jeanne enjoyed estate sales for over five decades, thirty with later business partner, Brooke Wilken, with whom she shared fond memories of their work and clientele.

A graduate of Southwest high school in Kansas City, and Kansas City Junior College in Westport, she also studied ballet at the conservatory for the University of Kansas City, now part of UMKC. A supporter of the arts and culture, Jeanne served as a member of the Fireside Committee of the Kansas City Art Institute in 1968 and later as an associate member and by joining the Friends of Art. She enjoyed painting and other artistic pursuits and was a fan of jazz. With husband Robert, she had been a member of Christ Episcopal Church since before ground was broken at 91st and Nall in 1962.

Jeanne is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Cecil Shopen; son, Kenneth Robert Shopen; and her dear sister, Clarabeth Whyte Moore. She is survived by daughter Cecile Shopen; son Frank Shopen and wife Peggy; daughter-in-law Priscilla Casey and husband John; grandchildren Rose Marie Klassen and husband Joe; Anna Duran; Louis Shopen; Eric Shopen; Joan Boyne; Patrick Shopen; Lucy Schmidgall; and Allison Wolf; great-grandchildren Gabriel, Thea, Lily, Ray, Caedmon, Bethany, and Bonnie Klassen; Isabel, Aiden, Logan, Ian, Anthony, and David Duran; Emma, Luke, William, Evie, and Clara Boyne; Clement Joseph Schmidgall; and Anton Wolf; as well as nieces Maribeth Rapuano; Patricia Moore; Susan Sanders; and nephew Tom Moore.

Memorial Services for the close friends and family of Mrs. Jeanne Whyte Shopen will be held at Christ Church Anglican on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 10:30 am, at the Deciples' Garden, 5500 West 91st St, Overland Park, Kansas 66207.