Mary Elizabeth “Maribeth” Ogg Brennaman of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away peacefully Friday, April 10, leaving a legacy of community service. She was born July 1, 1956, in Lawrence, Kansas. Maribeth grew up in Ottawa, Kansas, and graduated from Ottawa High School in 1974. In 1978, she graduated from Baker University, where she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. Upon graduation she held sales and marketing positions for Revlon, Hallmark Cards, Danskin, Proctor & Gamble, Gillette, and General Mills, retiring in 2024.

On November 17, 1984, she married Alan Brennaman of Kansas City, Missouri. Three beautiful young ladies were born into that marriage, and she was more proud of them than any of her work accomplishments and awards.

Throughout her life, Maribeth collected close friends in every corner, including neighbors, work colleagues, sorority sisters, travel buddies, and fellow activists.

When her children were in school Maribeth volunteered at the schools and served as a PTA President. She made some of her most lasting friendships with people she worked with at Woodsonia Elementary and Monticello Trails Middle School. She was dearly loved by a group of volunteers known as the YaYas, who have celebrated each other’s lives through the years.

Maribeth was also a board member of Stageworx, which provides theater opportunities and experiences for youth.

Maribeth began her journey of community activism and service long before she retired from General Mills. For more than 10 years, she was a dedicated organizer and leader of Free Hot Soup KC, an organization that feeds the food insecure at various locations in Kansas City. For the past five years, she coordinated feeding at 12th and Prospect, where she was known and loved by many members of the community. They also knew what to do when she told them to “knock it off.”

Maribeth also was past board member of Grandparents for Gun Safety, which encourages safety and responsible gun ownership. She was active in promoting community engagement.

She also was a member of KC 360, a community organization that works to reduce gun violence in Kansas City.

Maribeth’s involvement with the inner-city raised her awareness of what an unlevel playing field we have in this world. The more she became aware of this, the more she dug her heels in and was determined to change the world in any way she could.

Maribeth was preceded in death by her mother Betty Seavers Ogg, her father James B. Ogg, and her brother James C. Ogg.

Maribeth is survived by her loving husband Alan Brennaman of the home, daughters Courtney Davis and son-in-law Adam Davis of Chicago, Kelsey Brennaman of Chicago, Libby Brennaman of the home, and her dog Rosie of the home.

Maribeth is also survived by her adopted family Richard, Mindy and Ellie Allen, her cherished granddaughter, with whom she made many memories.

Visitation will be from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm with a Memorial Service at 2:30 pm on Friday April 24th, 2026 at the Church of the Resurrection, 1601 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Head for the Cure Cancer Research or Grandparents for Gun Safety.  Or to honor Maribeth, follow her determination to change the world. And do it with a smile on your face and love in your heart.

The Brennaman family would like to thank the medical teams at St. Luke’s Hospital, the University of Kansas Medical Center, and the Olathe Hospice House for the care she received over the past year.