Elmer A. Bryon

Elmer A. Bryon, 90 of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 4, 2021.

Elmer was born in Kansas City, Kansas to Ernest and Hermine Bryon on August 23, 1930. Both of his parents immigrated from Belgium after World War1. They were both widowed and they married in 1929, each having grown children from their previous marriages. His parents spoke very little English, so Elmer became fluent in Flemish at home and he taught his parents English when he entered grade school.

The family were truck farmers in the Turner bottoms along the Kaw River. The Associated Grocers warehouse now sits on a large portion of their farm. The Great Depression brought hard times on everyone, but the family survived by raising a variety of vegetables and selling them at the City Market in Kansas City Missouri.

After the 8th grade, Elmer had to quit school and find full time work, plus run the farm andsupport his mom and dad. He started driving the family's vegetables to the City Market at the age of 13.

Elmer met the love of his life Irene VanDeBerghe, in 1948 and they were married on October 14. 1950. Their first home was on the family farm in Turner, which they lost in the great flood of 1951. Their first child Thomas was born shortly after, in September of 1951.

Elmer moved his family from the farm in 1954 to a home in Kansas City Kansas which they occupied for the next 25 years. They raised their three children, Thomas, Robert born in August, 1953 and Diana born in August 1954.

Elmer worked at International Paper company in Kansas City, Kansas until he took a position at a local beer distributor, John Ward and Sons.. At that time, they were the distributor of Muehlebach beer, and were offered the opportunity to distribute a beer by the name of Coors, which at the time was a little known beer in this area. Coors beer was only sold in 11 states and none East of the Kansas border. Over 40 plus years Elmer worked his way up in the business and became the General manager, a position he held for many years.

Elmer was a self-made man, always on the lookout for an opportunity to make money to help support his family. He and Irene were great providers and they worked many jobs to give their children the opportunities in life that they did not have.

Over the course of many years, all the while managing the beer distributorship, he owned and operated fireworks stands, a milk store and small deli/ grocery store, long before a Quick Trip. Elmer and Irene owned and operated a liquor store in Kansas City Kansas for 10 plus years. That store provided the money to send his children to college, something that Elmer was proud of his entire life.

After he left the beer distributorship in the early 80's, his entrepreneurial spark resurfaced and he purchased a retail liquor store in what was then the outskirts of Overland Park at 103rd and Metcalf Avenue. Elmer used the knowledge he had gained in the beer business and as a previous liquor store owner, to build that store into one of the largest grossing stores in Johnson County. It was the first store in the area to offer large case discounts on beer. He also developed one of the largest wine selections in the Overland Park area.

After his wife of 45 years passed away in 1994 he sold his business and retired to Bella Vista Arkansas to follow one of his great passions, golf. He loved the game and passed that love on to all three of his children, who still actively play the game.

The game of golf is like the game of life, ups and downs, good lies and bad lies, but as in life the end score always comes back to the decisions one makes along the way.

Elmer always made sure that he and his family would enjoy a vacation! And boy did they have some adventures. These trips were made on a shoestring budget! No fancy hotels but instead lots of camping, sleeping in close quarters, and even cooking on a Coleman stove in the rain on the tailgate of a Chevrolet station wagon. These are trips Tom, Bob and Diana will never forget! Elmer took his family all over the western United States. The joy of traveling did not stop when the kids were grown, as he and Irene traveled to many destinations in the U.S. including Hawaii before her illness prevented further travel.

Elmer was raised virtually as an only child. His parents were old when he was born so work was foremost in their lives. He knew very little about his parents’ past, like the location in Belgium they immigrated from, how many aunts, uncles or cousins he had or even why they immigrated to this county while the rest of their families stayed behind.

Elmer's interest in his family's past led to an ancestry search and a trip to Belgium in 2000 with his three children to meet his cousins and other relatives. What an exciting trip for him to finally put some closure to his parents’ past, as well as spend quality time with his three children. He never forgot that trip, and his children will not either. Elmer was able to keep in touch with many of his relatives through social media. He was awestruck to visit his mother and fathers home towns and to see where they lived and worked.

He returned to Kansas City in 2013, and took up residences at the Brookdale Senior Living in Overland Park, where his nephew Robert Thurston was the administrator. He lived there until his death on February 4th.

Elmer loved to play cards, especially bean and poker. Another love he passed on to his children and grandchildren.

Elmer had many mentors in his life, like Camile Samyn, who lived across the street from thefamily farm and his longtime accountant and financial advisor. Likewise Elmer was a mentor not only to his children, but also to many young men, passing on his wisdom and easy going style to those who worked for and with him.

Elmer was also spiritual! He quietly kept his relationship with Jesus alive. He was a lifelong Catholic and enjoyed his quiet time with the Lord every day. He would read from the book
Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence every night before bed and contemplate what was being said to him. He had many conversations with his son Tom about those readings and what Jesus was trying to say to him. This quiet spirituality was also passed to his children, whom he prayed for every day. Elmer took his spiritual lead from St. Joseph quietly taking care of his family's needs both material and spiritual.

Elmer was blessed over the years with 5 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He enjoyed watching them play and grow, and visits from their dogs, too!

The pandemic took a toll on him, like many seniors. He was afraid of catching the virus and over the past year became more and more isolated. He was surprised this August as we celebrated his 90th birthday with a parade with all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was elated to receive his last Covid-19 vaccine shot on the afternoon of February 3. Elmer commented and joked with the staff at Brookdale that he was free again, little did he know how free he really was.

He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Elmer is preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Hermine Bryon, His wife Irene Bryon and numerous brothers and sisters.

Elmer is survived by his children, Thomas (Marsha) Bryon, Robert (Teresa) Bryon, and Diana Bryon., his grandchildren, Matthew (Jessica) Bryon, Andrew (Erin Slattery) Bryon, Angela (George) Macan, Laura (Kevin) Knapp, Rebecca ( Cameron) Tusken, his greatgrandchildren, Harper and Avery Bryon. Apollo and Duke Slattery Bryon, George and Mackenzie Macan, Mary and Ruby Knapp, Ava Tusken.

In compliance with Covid restrictions, a private service for the immediate family will be held on Friday February 12, 2021 at 11 am with burial to follow. A YouTube Livestream of the service will be found at www.cureofars.com/funeral.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Elmer's favorite charities:
Cure of Ars Catholic Church https://cureofars.com/
St. Joseph Catholic Church https://stjoeshawnee.weshareonline.org/
Lazarus Ministries https://lazminkc.org/give/

Please click HERE to watch the memorial tribute video.