Dave Kressin passed away at home, surrounded by his family, on Sunday, May 19, 2019. He was 61.
Dave was born on August 15, 1957 to Tom and Arlene (Talsky) Kressin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He spent his childhood in Wisconsin and Ohio, playing basketball, golf, tennis, and touch football, and engaging in more than his share of good-hearted mischief. As a young man, he spent a year studying architecture at the University of Cincinnati before leaving and moving to Kansas. There, he met Ann Flack at Stix, Baer & Fuller, a Kansas City department store where they both worked. Ann was a sales associate and Dave worked in receiving. Dave went on to attend the University of Kansas, becoming the first member of his family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Dave and Ann were married at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Lenexa, Kansas on July 29, 1983. Dave became a father in 1987 when Ann gave birth to their son, Brandon. Dave and Ann then welcomed their daughter, Makenzie, into the world three years later in 1990. And in 2017, Dave became a grandfather with the birth of Aurelia Kressin, Brandon’s firstborn.
Dave enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family and cuddling with his granddaughter. For more than three decades, he was the most present, involved, and loving husband, father, and grandfather anyone could hope for. He coached basketball teams, went on daddy-daughter dates, organized golf trips, and did after-school pick-ups. He and Ann saw the world with each other and with their children, traveling to Italy, Germany, France, England, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and all across the United States. Dave always said, “Every day is a gift,” and he never failed to make every event, milestone, and holiday (especially Christmas) the kind of memory you never wanted to forget.
In his professional life, Dave was always ahead of the curve. He trained himself to be a computer programmer and eventually became the CTO of one of first online travel agencies. When the dot-com bubble burst, Dave went on to found his own technology consultancy, i4 Strategic. For nearly two decades, he created innovative software and helped other small- and medium-sized businesses adapt to the twenty-first century. Dave retired in 2017 and found great joy in volunteering his newly found free time to mentor other Kansas City entrepreneurs through the Enterprise Center of Johnson County (ECJC).
Dave was a man blessed with so many different talents that simply listing them could never do him justice. But more importantly, he was a man of deep faith and integrity. He believed fiercely in fairness, personal responsibility, and doing the right thing, especially when no one was looking. He was compassionate, open-minded, forgiving, and charitable. But perhaps the trait that Dave exemplified best was wisdom. Everyone who knew Dave well knew they could trust in his counsel, guidance, and support. That, especially, will be truly missed.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Tom & Arlene; his older brother, Don; and his father- and mother-in-law, Gordon & Joan (Kunz) Flack. He is survived by his wife, Ann; his two children and their spouses, Brandon & Angela Kressin and Makenzie & Connor Montgomery; his granddaughter, Aurelia; and his grandson, who is expected this coming August. Dave is also survived by his sister-in-law, Dee; younger sister, Linda Edmondson (Don); younger brother, Ed (Donna); his aunt Judy Bergstrom and many more brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins, each of whom held a special place in his heart.
On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, a funeral service will be held to honor Dave and to celebrate his passing into eternal life. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., a Rosary will be said at 9:45 a.m., and the service will begin at 10:00 a.m. The celebration will be held at the Church of the Ascension (9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, KS 66213), and the burial will take place at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery (8300 Quivira Rd, Lenexa, KS 66215).
During his final months, Dave was the extremely thankful beneficiary of blood and platelet donations from countless donors. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you help us pay those gifts forward by donating blood or platelets or joining the bone marrow registry, if you are able. Donations to CureSMA or The Make-A-Wish Foundation would also be greatly appreciated.