Evelyn M. Vankemseke

Evelyn Madge VanKemseke, 87, Shawnee, KS passed away Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at her home.

Evelyn VanKemseke, a lifelong resident of Shawnee, Kansas started volunteering when her children were quite young. Having been born into poverty in the Great Depression, she knew first hand how hard it is to think, let alone try to study when you're stomach is growling and you don't know if, when or where you're next meal is coming from. She has always been concerned that people have enough food to survive but more importantly that they have the necessary resources to thrive!

Evelyn's vision was of a thriving community where growth and opportunities were readily available to all. She knew that it would take a long term view and steady, hard work to create that kind of community. It would involve building relationships with others with a common vision.

So she got involved with her church, local schools, governmental agencies, charitable and service organizations and more. She became an activist working tirelessly to bring good to her community.

Evelyn has served in leadership capacities on many boards involved with safety, charity and strategic use of resources throughout the Metro area. Her involvements have been broad and deep, focusing on civic organizations and social services. She worked to help expand United Way into Johnson County, was a founder of the Johnson County Christmas Bureau and the Shawnee Safety Council. Recognition for her community work began when she received a Certificate of Excellence from Johnson County United Way and she has since been recognized for her contributions to Kiwanis, Lions Club, Shepherd's Center, Rotary, and Daughters of the American Revolution; and was named Shawnee Citizen of the Year. She was the first person to become an honorary lifetime member of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce. She is a winner of the Johnson County Rotary Paul Harris Award and the DAR National Community Service Award; she was recipient of President Ronald Reagan's Golden Rule Award and was twice named Woman of the Year by Shawnee Journal Herald readers. Evelyn is also represented on the city's historical mural in Shawnee City Hall. Most recently she was honored by the KC Royals for lifetime achievement with the Buck O'Neil Legacy Award.

Her entire adult life Evelyn has been "of service" to those less fortunate. She has always known that people thrive on hope and that as a species humans respond better to kindness than abuse. But she didn't believe in "hand outs". So 33 years ago, she founded Shawnee Community Services where the idea was and continues to be to provide a "hand up" to the less fortunate. The Mission is to offer deep compassion to anyone in need along with feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and helping prevent homelessness.

She feels this is her most important accomplishment to date. You might say Evelyn found her "calling". She has never taken a salary in all her years working in the community or as CEO as Shawnee Community Services.

Survivors include: Daughters: Victoria Bates, Gladstone, MO; Amy Timbes, Apache Junction, Arisona, Sylvia Terry, Kansas City, MO; Marlisa VanKemseke, Kansas City, KS - Son: Amiel VanKemseke, Richardson, Texas; Sister, Mary Carey, Grandview, MO. Brother, Gerald Mier, Merriam, KS. Grandchildren: Michael Herman, KC, MO; Michele Burch, Excelsior Springs, MO; Rachel Herman, Ft. Washington, Maryland; Mark McCendon, KC, MO; Jonathan Timbes, Katherine Timbes, Annette Newman of Apache Junction, Arizona; Jason VanKemseke, Los Angeles, CA, Nicolas and Ryan VanKemseke, Allen, Texas. Great Grandchildren: Emory and Chloe McClendon, KC, MO; Anna Aldana, San Diego, CA; Allison Trio, Liberty, MO; Joshua Aldana, Richmond, MO; Trey Burch, Excelsior Springs, MO; Great Great Grandchildren: Gabriel and Lillianna Trio, Liberty, MO; Halen and Natalie Aldana, Richmond, MO; Dustin, Evan and Corbin Newman, Apache Junction, Arizona.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 at St. Joseph Catholic Church; burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 5-8 pm Tuesday at the Amos Family Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Shawnee Community Services, 11110 W. 67th Street, Shawnee, KS 66203.