DOB: 04-10-1948
Place of Birth: Kansas City, Missouri
Place of Death: Grain Valley, Missouri
Age: 71
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he was first born of 5 children, to Kenneth Neil Eisler and Patricia Ruth Eisler.
When he was young, he, his sister, Janet and their friends used to climb the fence in the backyard to get to the neighbor’s side. The fence began to weaken, so they were told they could no longer climb the fence. This is when Kent discovered his ability to jump. Everyone would have to go around, but that took too long to him, so he decided to jump the fence and made it. His desire to jump over things grew from there. He would jump over cars, he loved it! He went out for track in high school and held many records.
Kent was 18 months older than his sister, Janet. They were at Central Missouri State at the same time. When he was a senior and she was a junior she went to the first day of classes that year. In one of her classes she went in and sat in the second row and three TKEs (Tau Kapa Epsilon fraternity brothers of Kent’s) were sitting in front of her. When the professor called her name in roll call, all three guys turned and looked at her, surprised. “Are you related to Kent Eisler?” they asked. With as much aplomb as she could muster she answered with a straight face, “He’s my mother’s son.” The next time she saw Kent, he told her they had asked why he hadn’t told them he had a sister at school and asked if she was a freshman. He admitted she was a junior. She asked him why he had never told the guys about her. His answer: “They are great guys, but I don’t want my sister dating any of them!
Degrees:
Bachelor of general studies from the University of Kansas;
Bachelor of science from Central Missouri State College;
Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction from the University of Missouri
Kent had a lifelong dream of being a teacher. The one degree, among his many, he hadn’t yet achieved was his teacher’s certification. After a lot of encouragement and problem-solving with those supportive of his dream, he took the plunge and went back to school—even though he was single, had no place to live at the time and no steady source of income. His teaching years were some of the most fulfilling of his life. As a middle school science teacher, he was able to draw upon all his powers of creativity. His classrooms were a feast for the eyes—periodic table of the elements on the ceiling and all. Many of his students told him he was their favorite teacher of all time—that he made them love science. He gave it his all, and his students were blessed by him.
He had the most beautiful and powerful voice and played the guitar. He sang for countless church services, weddings and other events. He sang in the lyric Opera of
Kansas City. He was a member and sang in the Independence Messiah Choir for 35 years. He was a bass soloist in an RLDS world church production of Handel’s Oratorio, Israel in Egypt. It was one of the greatest joys of his life to share his gift of music. He loved geography, crafting like needlepoint, building things, astronomy, science and cool gadgets, arranging music, weather, trains, meticulously cataloguing and labeling everything – including his collection of over 1000 DVDs, he was a lifelong learner, passionate teacher, believer, he had so many interests – cryptography, languages, music, travel – he had a dry wit, and a mind like a steel trap. He had a dictionary and thesaurus in his locker at work. He enjoyed working on our family’s ancestry and family tree. More than anything, he loved his two daughters, whom he lovingly referred to ask Squeek and Shoog. Summer in Estes park – special summer when he and his family enjoyed special adventures. Phantom of the opera, feeding beecas (chipmunks).
Preceded in death by:
Father, Kenneth Neil Eisler – Mother, Patricia Ruth Eisler – Brother, William Harvey Eisler
Survived By:
Daughter, MacKenzie Wallace and husband Josh Wallace
Daughter, Laurel Eisler
Stepson, Lee White and wife Jenny White
Sister, Janet Havener and husband Gary Havener
Sister, Bev Seeley and husband John Seeley
Brother, Greg Eisler
Niece, Kate Havener
Nephew, Tim Eisler
Nephew, Daniel Eisler
Nephew, Jared Seeley
Nephew, Josh Seeley
2 grandchildren, MacKayla and Cole Wallace
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove, MO 816-690-4441