Richard “Dick” E. Soenen, 74, of Lenexa, KS, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 after a short battle with brain cancer.
Dick was born in Kansas City, MO to Edward and Marguerite “Mickey” (Umscheid) Soenen. A lifelong, devout Catholic, he attended Queen of the Holy Rosary Grade School and Bishop Miege High School. He then attended Rockhurst College where he was an active member in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. There he met his future wife of 52 years, Martha “Susan” Hensler. They became dedicated, founding members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park, KS, where they raised their family and developed many lifelong friendships with fellow parishioners.
Through the years Dick wore many hats—altar boy, baseball player, musician, coach, handyman, and Royals fan. He spent his 40-year career as a computer programmer at AT&T and DST. Dick was known for his calm, gentle demeanor, light-hearted sense of humor, and a meticulously mowed lawn. Above all he was deeply devoted to his family and faith, always present, and ready to serve others.
He is survived by his wife Susan, children Mark (Sara) and Jill (Dawn), and sisters Judy (Frank) Pizzurro and Donita McCullough. He has five grandchildren Zeke, Priscilla, Reghan, Ryann, and Kennedy and many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. He is preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father in-law Robert and Patricia (Koehler) Hensler, brothers-in-law Tom McCullough and Mike DeCoursey, sister-in-law Janice (Hensler) Durr, and his best friend Timothy Sullivan.
A visitation will be held on his birthday, Friday, August 30, 9:30-11:00 am, immediately followed by mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church 11300 W 103rd, Overland Park, KS 66214. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Holy Spirit Catholic Church and the Parkinson’s Foundation. Dick’s family would like to especially thank Angels of Care and the St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City Hospice and Neuroscience teams for the tremendous care they provided in his final days.