Lyle Van Vleet

Lyle Irving Van Vleet, 76, of Shawnee, Kansas died January 17, 2019 surrounded by his family. The cause of death was a pulmonary embolism. Born March 20, 1942 in Los Angeles, he was the son of the late Alvin James Van Vleet and Josephine Lizarraga Van Vleet.

He graduated from Arcadia High School in 1960 and received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from CalPoly (California Polytechnic State University) in San Luis Obispo, CA in 1964 and his MBA from Rockhurst University, Kansas City in 1989. His summer job working for Pacific Press in Los Angeles during high school evolved into his vocation. He was a lifetime professional in the printing industry and worked as a manufacturing engineer, manager, and specialist in environmental health and safety at Arcata Graphics (California), McCalls (Maryland), and Dayton Press (Ohio) before working in the greater Kansas City area at Vile-Goeller Fine Arts and Commercial Lithography. He worked as an independent consultant to the printing industry as well, and received the Gary R. Reniker Environmental Health and Safety Professional of the Year Award in 2006. He retired from the printing industry in 2016. After retirement, he continued working in what had been his avocation: For more than 25 years, he prepared taxes and was an enrolled agent and member of the National Association of Tax Preparers.

Lyle was devoted to helping the people around him - his family and friends, and more broadly, his community. As an Eagle Scout, he developed a strong commitment to serving others. He has contributed his time and energy to outreach projects at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, especially the Food Kitchen and the Donation Garden. He has been a long-time supporter of Friends of Yates, a Kansas City, Kansas, organization offering programs to assist people of all ages, especially under-privileged youth and victims of domestic violence. He was a volunteer board member of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Greater Kansas City, an organization dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers to choose meaningful, dignified, affordable funerals. He also volunteered as a board member of the Highland Cemetery of Prairie Village.

Lyle's family meant the world to him. He married Marian Morisse on August 31, 1963. She still remembers being enveloped in a hug during their first high school dance and the warmth and safety she felt in his arms. His smile could light up the room. His wit and laugh made you want to laugh with him. His genuine warmth and acceptance of those he met made him a friend to many. He cherished the times when his family was together for holidays and special events. He loved being a part of his children's and grandchildren's activities and endeavors. He enjoyed car trips, tasting new foods and traveling with family and friends to places he had never been. He was a handyman who loved woodworking and refinishing old furniture. He was always available to offer advice to those who asked.

Lyle dedicated his life to being the provider, protector, and mentor to his wife and children. He is survived by Marian, his wife of 55 years, and his children and their families: Lisa and Mark Klein and their children, Joshua and Kaitlin; Krista Van Vleet and Lawrence Kovacs, and their children, Isabel and Sophia; Jim and Carmella Van Vleet and their children, Matt, Sam, and Abigail; Matthew Van Vleet and Ruth Howell and their son, Alex; and David Van Vleet and his children, Grant and Charlotte.

He is loved and will be missed by all.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 23, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 12800 W. 75th St., Shawnee. Visitation will begin before mass at 10 a.m. at the church. Private burial after the service will be in Highland Cemetery of Prairie Village located in the 5000 block of W.65th St.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to these organizations that were especially meaningful to him:

Heart to Heart International
PO Box 15566
Lenexa, Kansas 66285

Home Page

OR

American Diabetes Association
2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22202
http://www.diabetes.org/
1-800-DIABETES(800-342-2383)