James E. Fagan, 89, Overland Park, KS, passed away Sunday, December 24 following a very brief illness. Visitation and memorial service will be held January 31, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS.
Jim was born May 23, 1934, in St. Louis, MO, son of James and Dorothy (Kline) Fagan. He joined the Army immediately after high school where he served in the Special Forces as a Green Beret paratrooper. During his service, Jim was sent to the VA Hospital in Excelsior Springs, MO, where he met his future wife. They married and moved to Kansas City while he pursued degrees in mathematics and physics at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO. Upon the birth of the first of their two daughters, they moved to Lenexa, KS, at which time Jim entered the computer industry when it was barely in its infancy—first at Swift & Company, and later at Associated Wholesale Grocers where he eventually served as Vice President. Later, he joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, where he worked until his retirement at age 70.
Jim had two very different (but equally endearing) sides to his personality: A tough, Special Forces veteran who was always there to rescue you when your car battery died and a gentle soul who cried in movies, enjoyed art films, owned his own copies of the Sondheim musicals Into the Woods and Company, attended live theatre throughout Kansas City, learned to play classical guitar, and never missed a performance by his Broadway actor-singer daughter, Val.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Danny and Lynne Fagan, and his former wife, Shirley Fagan. He is survived by his beloved daughters Valerie Fagan and Stephanie Hanaway, son-in-law (and buddy) Ken Hanaway, and many cherished nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Always & Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary (Contribute to A&F – Always and Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary).