Richard Lynn Waldron, 69, of Lee’s Summit, MO, passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021. Due to our concern for the health and safety of our friends and relatives, rather than hosting a large service, please visit: GatheringUs.com to Celebrate the Life of Richard Lynn Waldron. Collecting your stories and memories here will offer us great comfort. In lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations to be made in Rick Waldron’s honor to Jackson County CASA. There is a link to make a donation on the GatheringUS webpage. Thank you for contributing to this lasting memorial.
Rick was born on August 23, 1951, in Waukon, Iowa to William and Marjorie (Leet) Waldron. He spent his entire childhood in Waukon, attending St. Patrick’s Catholic School K-12, before heading off to college, where he would ultimately graduate from Mankato State University with a degree in business. While young Rick’s shy and quiet demeanor was a stark contrast to the outgoing man we all knew him to be, his entrepreneurial spirit was on display early. He ran his own business in college and then moved directly into managing and ultimately owning restaurants upon graduation, taking him from Minnesota to the Kansas City area. Shortly after moving to Kansas City, Rick was very lucky to meet the (first) love of his life, Anita. They quickly fell in love, got married (November 10, 1979), and started a family. They settled down in Blue Springs, where they made 35 years of wonderful memories. Also, over that span, Rick made his mark on two very different career paths – first as a restauranteur and then in wealth management – serving as a great example of the value of hard work and perseverance. Finally, several years after losing Anita to cancer, Rick was again fortunate to meet the second love of his life, Jan. Rick and Jan were married on December 22, 2018 and have spent the last couple years enjoying retired life, traveling, and absolutely loving being constantly surrounded by family… especially the grandkids! Rick’s wonderful traits and reasons to be loved are far too numerous to list here. However, the thing he will no doubt be best remembered for (and that he would be most proud of), is being a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will also be very fondly remembered as an incredibly gracious and generous host, and someone who always loved to crack a joke. He will be eternally missed, but he can leave knowing that he made an incredibly lasting impact on all those he cared for.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Marjorie Waldron, and his first wife Anita Waldron, the mother of his three daughters.
Rick is survived by his loving wife, Jan; his three daughters, Courtney (husband Bas Rol, son Kees), Amy (husband John Benne, daughters Madilynn and Leighton), Kate (husband Chris Teuber, daughter Penny, son Valentine); his siblings, Jan Votroubek (Ed), Denny Waldron (d. Jean; Becky Picard), Greg Waldron (Moira), Kathy Fossum (Jim), Sue Waldron (Monte Smith), Wendy Waldron (Larry Stott), Peggy Thomas (d. Frank Selder; Tim), Gwen Waldron, Jane Sivesind (Danny); sister-in-law, Susan Wilson, his step-children Jennifer (deceased), Jason, Jordan (Sara) and step-grandchildren (Emma, Peighton, Henley, and Halston); and countless other family and friends who love, adore and will greatly miss him.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441
John Ehler
21 Feb 2021Wow! It was 53 years ago that I first met Rick in Waukon, Iowa. My family moved to Waukon in 1967. I still remember his family’s bakery in downtown Waukon.
Rick and I would take turns driving some of the local girls to dances at the Inwood Pavilion in Spillville, Iowa. We got away with this because Rick and I were considered to be nice guys and SAFE! Maybe Rick’s sister, Kathy, remembers me as well
Even back then, the way I knew Rick, I could see that he could be a successful businessman, but even more, a good family man.
I moved to the Kansas City area way back in 1983 and got a hold of Rick when I first got to town. He was owner/manager of a Restaurant near 23rd St. and Highway 291 at the time. My life has taken several turns and twists since then, and I never got together with him…I wish I did, he was always a quiet, unassuming guy. I knew he was very proud of his kids, because that is all he talked about.
My condolences to Rick’s family. He was one of the good ones, May he rest in PEACE!
John Ehler
Gladstone, Missouri
Jim Gould
28 Feb 2021Sue and I met Rick twenty years ago at ML, he started as our financial advisor and soon became a good friend.
We always enjoyed our consultations with him and discovering how much we had in common, even though he was a better golfer. Despite the direction of the stock market he was always a calming influence and presented himself as a true gentleman.
Our condolences to all his family and friends.
God bless him,
Sue and Jim Gould