Sheila Rene Strecker passed away peacefully at her home in Overland Park, Kansas on June 26, 2020, at the age of 57. She was born on September 2, 1962, to Dennis and Jeanette (Kimminau) Vierthaler at St. John’s Hospital in Leavenworth, Kansas
Sheila graduated from Buhler High School in Buhler, Kansas in 1980, attended Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in 1982. She later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education from Kansas State University in 1984. Sheila continued her education, earning a Master’s degree from the University of Kansas in 1990, with dual concentrations in Early Childhood Handicapped and Severely Multiply Handicapped.
Sheila met the love of her life, Paul Strecker, in 1988 at St. Gabriel Archangel Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Paul was attracted to Sheila’s beauty, but fell in love with her kindness and compassion for others. Sheila and Paul married on August 4, 1990 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Hutchinson, Kansas. Together, Sheila and Paul raised two children. Sheila was most proud of her children, Leigh Anne and Brandon, and her husband, Paul.
Sheila taught elementary education for thirty-four years. She enjoyed working with children and applied her compassion and kindness to influence the lives of countless students, including Title I and English Language Learner students. Sheila taught at Quindaro Elementary School in Kansas City, Kansas for six years. After earning her Master’s degree, Sheila taught Special Education at the Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka, Kansas for one year, and the Olathe Public School District for two years. She went on to teach elementary education at Indian Creek Elementary School in Olathe, Kansas for twenty-five years. In 2015, Sheila was nominated as Kansas Teacher of the Year by her colleagues at Indian Creek Elementary. She will be remembered by the many students, parents, and colleagues whose lives she touched over the years.
Sheila was a kind and loving daughter, sister, wife, and mother. She was a good, honest, trustworthy, generous, compassionate person and a friend to all who knew her. Sheila had a passion for cooking and liked exploring new recipes. Sheila enjoyed providing delicious homemade meals that brought the family together every evening to share stories.
Sheila had a strong Catholic faith and was an active member of the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, Kansas. Sheila gave generously of her time to her church, helping serve church meals and participating in parish ministries, particularly Perpetual Adoration, Christ Renews His Parish Retreat, and Worldwide Marriage Encounter.
Sheila is survived by her husband, Paul (Overland Park, Kansas); their two children: Leigh Anne Strecker (Overland Park, Kansas) and Brandon Strecker (Royal Oak, Michigan); her parents, Dennis and Jeanette Vierthaler (Hutchinson, Kansas); her mother-in-law, Eleanor Strecker (Spearville, Kansas); her brothers-in-law: Bernard (Julie) Strecker (Wichita, Kansas), Larry (Eleanor) Strecker (Topeka, Kansas), Dale Strecker (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina); her sister-in-law, Pat Vierthaler (Ladson, South Carolina); and many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Sheila was preceded in death by her two brothers, Timothy Vierthaler and Daniel Vierthaler.
Funeral arrangements will be handled by Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia in Lenexa, Kansas. A Rosary will be prayed on Thursday evening, July 2nd, at 6 pm at Porter Funeral Home with visitation to follow until 8 pm. The funeral Mass will be held at the Church of the Ascension at 9510 West 127th Street in Overland Park, Kansas on Friday, July 3rd, at 10 am, followed by burial at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas.
Due to COVID-19, face masks will be required to attend the rosary, funeral Mass, and cemetery burial. Social distancing guidelines will be followed.
Memorial contributions may be made to the following organizations: Susan G. Komen at https://ww5.komen.org/ and Catholic Charities at https://catholiccharitiesks.org/.
The July 3rd, 10 am funeral Mass will be streamed and can be viewed live at https://kcascension.org/ by scrolling down to the photo of the church and clicking the red play button. Streaming will start 5-10 minutes prior to Mass time. To view the funeral at a later date, go to the same site, select "Video Recordings" and scroll down to 07-03-20.