Matthew L. Fraas, 45, of Lenexa, KS, passed away on Sunday, December 30, 2018. Visitation will be from 9:30-11:00 AM with Funeral Services starting at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 5th at the Church of the Resurrection (RezWest) located at 24000 W. Valley Pkwy, Olathe, KS 66061. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to a go fund me page established to support the children’s future education expenses. (https://www.gofundme.com/matt-fraass-family-fund?pc=em_co_shareflow_m&rcid=r01-154636351137-7334d4b896bd4ff0)
Matt was born October 11, 1973, in Topeka, KS. When Matt was in second grade, his family moved to Fulda, Germany, where he attended school and was an active athlete playing football, wrestling, tennis and track. Matt built relationships with his fellow American students as well as the local German community. Matt liked to think of himself as fluent German speaker, regularly using phrases such as “Ich liebe dich” (I love you). Matt graduated high school in 1992 and then attended Kansas State University where he joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and graduated with a criminology degree in 1997. Matt met the love of his life, wife Kelli (Kraft), at Kansas State University in 1995.
Matt and Kelli married in August of 1998 and relocated to Boise, Idaho, where they had two sons (Cole Matthew Fraas, November 1999) and (Connor David Fraas, October 2004). While in Idaho, Matt worked for the Canyon County Sheriff's Department in corrections, patrol and as a juvenile detective. In 2005, Matt, Kelli and the boys relocated to Lenexa, Kansas where Matt worked for the Lenexa Police Department from which he medically retired in 2012. In March of 2010, Matt and Kelli welcomed their third son, Colin Damon Fraas, completing their family. Upon retirement from the Lenexa Police Department, Matt became a full time dad, which is the hardest job of all. Matt coached the boys in soccer, baseball and basketball and was active in the their school activities. Matt was curious, inquisitive, always in the know and constantly working to improve himself. He recently finished his Master's Degree from Grand Canyon University and had been substitute teaching at Mission Trail Middle School for the last few years. Matt found his second calling working with students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grade and had a passion for teaching social studies and history.
Matt and his family are members of the Church of the Resurrection, where Matt coached the Upward soccer teams, supported the church summer camps and volunteered with the children’s ministries. Matt was always an athlete going to the gym (almost) daily and enjoyed the physical and social aspects where he developed several close friendships. Matt was devoted to his family, loved babysitting his niece Isla, giving his sisters Lizzi and Amy a hard time, going to lunch with his dad Lou and talking daily to his brother Dave in Idaho. Matt especially loved sharing daily devotionals with his mother Mary. Matt was a wonderful husband and father. Matt, Kelli and the boys enjoyed traveling, Friday pizza nights, going to movies, taking long walks with their dogs, pulling the occasional prank on each other, carpooling to and from and attending his boy’s various sports activities.
Matt was the guy who never met a stranger, loved to entertain and make others laugh and was always willing to give a helping hand. Words cannot express how much Matt will be missed, as recently best described by a close family friend “Matt’s smile made life happy”. We are blessed to know that Matt is now in heaven with our Heavenly Father and will be watching over all his loved ones.
Matt is survived by his wife, Kelli, their three sons Cole (19) currently attending the University of Kansas, Connor (14) attending Prairie Trail Middle School, and Colin (9) attending Manchester Park Elementary, his father Louis (Janet) Fraas, his mother Mary Fraas, his three siblings Amy Chapman, David Fraas, Elizabeth Fraas and many extended family and friends.