Damian Bernard Henry, age 86, departed peacefully to his heavenly home on January 6, 2025 while in Hospice care at his earthly home in Overland Park, Kansas. Damian was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and respected retired businessman, as well as a devout member of the Catholic faith who will be dearly missed by his many family members, neighbors and friends.

 Damian Bernard "Dan" Henry was born September 26, 1938 in Axtell, Kansas, the third youngest child of 11 children born to farmers Leo "Pete" and Julia "Agnes" Kelly Henry. He was welcomed into the large family by older siblings Rita, Eileen, Betty, Mary, James, Norma, Arlen and Cecil. Younger siblings Sonja and Nicholas completed the Henry family in 1943. The family lived in several communities in northeast Kansas during the difficult years of the Great Depression and post-depression, eventually purchasing a farm southeast of Seneca, Kansas.

 Damian attended school in Seneca after completing his morning farming chores, and graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul (SPPS) High School in 1957, lettering in many sports including football (quarterback), basketball (guard) and track (long distance runner), even maintaining the school record for the mile run through the closure of the high school in 1974. Shortly after graduation, Damian served in the US Army Reserves in rural Mississippi and subsequently was employed by Southern Airways in Natchez, Mississippi.

 During Damian's high school years, he courted the "love of his life", the beautiful Miss Patricia "Patty" Roth, also of Seneca. Damian married his beautiful bride on October 27, 1958 at St. Mary's Basilica in Natchez, Mississippi. They were blessed with the birth of four beloved children; Kelly, Angela, Jeffrey and Christopher, whom they were devoted to raising in a disciplined home filled with tremendous faith, love and laughter. 

 Damian and Pat moved throughout Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma and Missouri while he was employed by Southern Airways and Sunshine Biscuit, before moving back to Seneca in 1967 to assist their parents in their retirement years. Damian worked with his brother Arlen at Henry Insurance Agency from 1967-1977, and then managed lumber yards for Meyer Lumber Company that eventually moved the loving couple to Overland Park until his retirement in 2010.

 During Damian's happy years in Seneca, he held many leadership roles in the community, including the Seneca Community Hospital Board, the SPPS Parish Council, the SPPS School Board, and the Seneca Jaycees, as well as coaching numerous baseball teams, serving as a Cub Scout leader, and more. He also served as lector and cantor at SPPS Church (which his children teased him about mercifully)! He was always the first Dad outdoors in the yard playing with his children (and lots of the neighborhood kids as well), whether it was throwing a football, shooting hoops, playing baseball, tag, or kick the can. 

 Damian and Pat were always each other’s best friends, and they enjoyed celebrating their faith and family for more than 66 years. They enjoyed taking their family on long hikes, traveling, camping, and especially watching anything their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews were involved in. They also enjoyed motorcycle rides over beautiful back country roads in Kansas and Nebraska, attending polka dances with dear friends, playing cards with cherished family, and watching the Chiefs and NASCAR. In his retirement, Damian volunteered his time for many years at Catholic Charities. He also loved playing golf with his buddies, woodworking with his hands, and attending daily mass. He crafted a beautiful wooden baptismal font for a northeast Kansas Catholic Church, as well as numerous wooden crosses and crucifixes for dear family and friends.

 Damian lived a blessed life surrounded by his family’s devotion, respect and treasured love. He is survived by his dear wife, Patricia "Pat" Henry of Overland Park; daughter Kelly and husband Darrell Lee of Burleson, TX; daughter Angela and husband Bruce Wessel of Topeka, KS; son Jeffrey and wife Theresa of Olathe, KS; and son Christopher and wife Doreen of Melbourne, Australia; 11 treasured grandchildren and their spouses; and 22 precious great-grandchildren. Damian is also survived by his sister Betty Kramer of Wichita, KS, and brother Arlen and sister-in-law Laverne Henry of Seneca, sister-in-law Blanche Henry (Cecil), Newark, CA and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Eileen (Roth) and Jim Owen, Green Valley, AZ; as well as 32 nieces and nephews.

 Damian is predeceased by his parents, parents-in-law Wilbur and Lucille Roth, siblings and their spouses Rita Fienhage and husband Wilfred "Bill", Eileen Huls, Mary Chelemedos and husband Spiro, James Henry and wife Petronella "Pat", Norma Heiman and husband Donald, Cecil Henry, Sonja Henry and Dr. Nicholas Henry, as well as brother-in-law Wilbur Kramer, and nephews Wilfred "Billy" Fienhage, Jr. and Steve Henry.

 Visitation and Rosary will be held on Saturday morning, January 11, 2025 from 9:30 - 10:30 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 am, with Monsignor Tom Tank officiating. Burial will follow the mass at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Stanley, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, Damian's family suggests that donations may be made to one of his favorite charities, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.