Will Michael Ensley

Will Michael Ensley, beloved son and brother, was born May 18, 2006 in Shawnee, KS. Will was always smart, funny, focused, and determined. In his seventeen years with us he grew to be a caring, thoughtful, and loving young man.

Will represented the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School swim team at the Kansas state meet all three years of his high school career with great success. He was interested in cyber security work in the future and swimming in college. With his leadership skills, work ethic, enthusiasm, and unbridled love for the sport we thought he would have made a great swim coach once his competition days were over.

He worked hard in the classroom, and he trained hard in the pool. And, when schoolwork, training time, and swim meets permitted, he worked as a lifeguard at the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center.

Will’s time with us was tragically cut short on the morning of Wednesday, July 26, 2023. In passing he has helped save the lives of two others with his donated kidneys, and he may yet save or improve lives further through the donation of his heart valves, corneas, bone, skin, and vessels.

He is survived by his parents Sharon and Randall Ensley, brother Jack Ensley, grandmother Pauline Ensley, grandfather Patrick McKenna who passed later that same day, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was proceeded in death by his grandmother Jean McKenna, his grandfather Gordon Ensley, and his grandfather Michael Aczinowicz.

Will loved the Northwest swim program, and he very quickly felt like he had a home with the Empire KC Swim Club. In hopes that his legacy will live on and he can continue to help others, we plan to set up a Will Michael Ensley Memorial Scholarship Fund to aid Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and Empire KC swimmers.

A celebration of life service will be held at the Westside Family Church in Lenexa, KS on Friday, August 4th at 1 p.m. To view the service live CLICK HERE .  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Will M. Ensley Memorial Scholarship Fund being collected either at Community America Credit Union (Ensley Account, Routing: 301081508 Account: 3803382972) or via Venmo: @Sharon-Ensley.