John Frownfelter

General Manager - Johnson County Chapel & Memorial Gardens

John Frownfelter started with D.W.Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel in January of 1985 as a funeral director and embalmer. He worked at that location for 15 years and then became the General Manager of D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens along with Oaklawn Memorial Gardens and Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens. He was over the daily operations of the funeral home and cemeteries for 5 years and then promoted to Director of Operations and held that position for the next 10 years until the company sold in 2014. John is excited to be back home to where his career started over 30 years ago in serving the families in the Johnson County Community. John grew up in Marquette Kansas and has lived in Overland Park for over 30 years. He is an active member of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, on the board of Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Vice President of CLAN Investment Group and volunteers for the Save House. 

Desiree Paananen

General Sales Manager

Desiree Paananen has been in the death care industry for over 4 years.  Her experience in this industry started in memorial design.  She believes that memorializing the life of a loved one can bring comfort to a family and hopefully help their healing begin. 

Desiree is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Cardinal Stritch University in Wisconsin.  She recently moved to the Kansas City area from Wisconsin as Sales Manager to join the team at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Overland Park, Terrace Park Memorial Gardens and Longview.  She enjoys this role as it allows her to strengthen her experience in Customer Service and Sales Leadership roles.  Desiree is extremely passionate about helping families through difficult times

Carina Berthusen

Office Manager

Kylie Newsom

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Kylie graduated from Des Moines Area Community College in March of 2015 with her degree in Mortuary Science and began working at Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens immediately after that. She is licensed as a Funeral Director/Embalmer in Kansas and a Funeral Director in Missouri. She is originally from Iowa, but moved to the area to pursue her career. Kylie enjoys being outside, watching and playing sports, listening to music, and spending time with her family and friends.

Bennie Smith

Funeral Director

Born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, living in Johnson County the past 32 years serving families in Olathe and more recent Overland Park, Kansas.

Occupation background:

·         Funeral Director/Embalmer

·         Career began in Kansas City, Kansas

·         40 years in funeral service, 31 in Olathe, Kansas

·         Managed funeral homes 33 years

Civic:

Member of St. Pius X in Mission, Kansas

Member of Overland Park, Masonic Lodge

Member of Scottish Rite Bodies of Northeast Kansas

Member and 2018 Potentate Abdallah Shriners

Member and Past President of Olathe Noon Optimist

Former Member of Board of Zoning Appeals, City of Olathe

Former Member of the Planning Commission, City of Olathe

Charter Member, Past President and “Paul Harris Fellow” of Olathe Santa Fe Trail Rotary Club

Past Chairman of the Board of the Olathe Area Chamber of Commerce

·         “Spirit Award” Recipient

·         Past Chairman of the Leadership Olathe Program

Richard E. “Rick” Brenneman

Funeral Director

Rick is a Kansas native. He graduated from Kansas City Kansas Community College with an Associates degree in Mortuary Arts in 1988. That same year, he returned to his hometown of Newton, KS to begin his career as a Funeral Director and Embalmer.  Later, he was hired as a funeral home manager living briefly in Casper, WY and Hutchinson, KS.

In 1999, the opportunity to purchase a funeral home in Liberal, KS unexpectedly presented itself. Rick is a visionary so the transition to ownership went very smoothly and the business grew to nearly double in size.  After 17 years of serving families in Liberal, Rick sold the funeral home and moved to the Kansas City area to be near family. Following the move, he worked for the State of Kansas for two years but found that he greatly missed the opportunity of helping families.  Rick feels that working in funeral service has been a calling instead of a job and he was led to return to his profession.  

Rick is a member of Blue Valley Baptist Church and attends at the Antioch campus.  He is a classic car enthusiast and loves showing his 1952 Buick in local car shows.  His greatest joy is spending time with family.  He has been married 30 years to wife, Mellissa, who is also a Funeral Director and Embalmer.  They have one son, Blake and a ‘Brazilian son’, Thiago.

Fay Beasley

Assistant Funeral Director

Fay Beasley is a Virginia native but has called Kansas City home for 30 years. She has a background in finance, real estate, mortgage banking and administration. She has worked in Ministry for the frail and elderly and the Funeral Ministry for ten years. She is passionate about the funeral ministry and caring for families during this difficult time and is honored to be a part of the funeral team at Johnson County Funeral Chapel.

Fay and her husband Marvin of 44 years have three daughters and six grandchildren. Both are very active members of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection where Fay currently serves as a Congregational Care Minister.  They also support many local and national charities. 

Barb Entleutner

Administrator

Barb started part-time at Johnson County Chapel since in 2016, becoming a full time administrator in June 2017.

Linda Sloan

Receptionist

Nell Owen

Administrator

Patricia Schonacher

Family Service Specialist

Pat graduated from Loyola University of the South with a BA in Business Administration. She received the outstanding award for the female student in the School of Business in her Senior year. 

Pat married Bill Schonacher the year after her graduation. Once her children were born, she went back to school to work on her Master’s Degree in Education in Counseling.

Once she completed schooling, she has had a varied career. She has taught in high school, technical level, Johnson County Community College and has administrated a Federal Grant for the sheriff of Orleans Parish in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Pat joined the Family Service Counselors in February of 1990. She has enjoyed a long and fulfilling career assisting families in the Preneed Division as well as in the cemetery at Johnson County Memorial Gardens. While serving families, Pat has earned the highest award as Certified Service Professional on numerous occasions.

Pat has many interests. She loves her family, as well as the care of her home and flower garden. Pat belongs to three bridge groups and has many friends. Pat is a member of Cure’ of Ars Catholic Church and belongs to several groups within the Church.

Iris Menezes

Family Service Specialist

Iris Hudgens Menezes was born in Marion, Illinois. After her studies at Southern Illinois University she moved west to San Francisco, California. 

During her time in San Francisco Iris was employed by the Pacific Bell Telephone company as a 
Public relations spokesperson. Her responsibilities included traveling to the many small and 
Large cities in northern California conducting educational seminars regarding the programs with 
which Pacific Bell was involved. Of special interest were the seminars concerning the space and 
satellite communications technologies. 

After her marriage Iris moved from California to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she renewed her employment with the telephone company. Iris continued her position of public relations 
spokesperson until she and her husband moved to Kansas to start their own business.

Iris and her husband established a Manufacturer’s Representative Sales Organization, 
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. Iris was responsible for the internal management of 
The company, which after a few years consisted of salespeople covering the states of KS,MO,
IA, NE and Southern Illinois. Iris was also responsible for coordinating the sales activities of her 
company and the sales management teams of over 20 manufactures whose products were
imported from various countries in Europe and Asia. 

As a result of market changes the Consumer Electronic business became less attractive and the
decision was made to sell the sales organization. 

After exiting the electronics field Iris was referred to the D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Company to 
apply for the position of pre-arrangement counselor. After her training period Iris determined 
that this was a position she would enjoy because she always liked to work with people. In this 
position she felt that she would be helping people who were going through a very stressful time
in their lives. The people relationship skills Iris has acquired over the past 22 years has served her 
and her company well. She received her “Twenty Year” service award in 2012. 

Iris is accustomed to “change” in her work life and she views the new Signature ownership as 
An opportunity for continued personal growth.

Nancy Klamm

Family Service Counselor

Elaine Levine

Family Service Counselor

Elaine joined the Signature Group after working as a non-profit Executive Director for 21 years in businesses that either held space in cemeteries, or privately owned them. Needless to say that equates to many funerals. She prides herself on helping families to find the perfect placement at the end of life in a caring compassionate manner.

As a trained Stephen Minister she is dedicated to treating everyone she meets with kindness, and works to ease the pain of loss with a gentle smile, a warm hug or just by listening. She enjoys working with pre-need families where in a relaxed atmosphere we can plan and honor your wishes for the future.

Elaine is married to her husband, Terry they have two daughters and 5 grandchildren and a Himalayan cat named Coco-Blu. 

Edwin Donelson

Embalmer

Ed has been a licensed funeral director since 1996, and has worked exclusively in the care center since 2000. Ed and his wife Linda grew up in a small western Kansas
Community just this side of the Colorado, Kansas state line. They married in 1978, and have two adult sons, two teenage grandsons, three dogs , a cat and a rabbit.
Ed enjoys spending time with his wife and family, reading in his spare time and cooking. He understands and respects the trust families place in him to care for and prepare their loved ones, and is honor bound to that sacred trust. 

Miranda Walker

Embalmer/Funeral Director

Miranda Walker graduated from Kansas City Kansas Community College, with a degree in Mortuary Science in 2017. Miranda has been a licensed cosmetologist since August 2003. She worked as a Makeup Artist, until deciding to further her education in 2011.

Born and raised in Emporia, Kansas she relocated to Pleasant Hill, Missouri twelve years ago, with her husband and two children. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, and friends. Her hobbies include camping; kayaking, traveling and watching her children participate in sports. 

Miranda joined the Johnson County family in July of 2016 as an ambassador, moving to an Apprentice in July of 2017.

Mark Snavely

Superintendent

Mark has been with Johnson County Memorial Gardens since August 2011. He is a Kansas City native and a graduate from NW Missouri State University with a degree in horticulture. He has worked in the grounds maintenance industry for 35 years. Hillcrest C.C., KCMO and Arbormasters Tree and Landscape, Shawnee Kansas, serves as book ends to his 20yr stay as the Grounds Maintenance Superintendent with Quivira Falls Community Association, Overland Park.

Andre Murray

Grounds Maintenance

Andre Murray began working for Johnson County Funeral Chapel and Memorial Gardens in April, 2013. 
He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where he still resides and graduated from Southwest High School. He has three children, ages 18, 16 and 10. Andre has a passion for tennis, not only playing, but also teaching other adults and children to play as well. He spends many hours a week on a tennis court, when he is not spending time with his children. 
In years passed, he was a member of Hilltop Racquet Club, Tennis Team and has supported his step-mother, a survivor of breast cancer, by running in the Susan G. Komen race for the cure. Other than tennis, Andre enjoys playing pool, darts, bowling and the many museums that the city has to offer.

Raymond Cowley

Grounds Maintenance

Raymond Cowley joined Johnson County Memorial Gardens in 2012 as part of the cemetery service qualified staff. Ray’s hard work and dedication to Johnson County has been noticed by the continued upkeep of the grounds. His primary position is lawn maintenance. 
Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Ray graduated from Southwest High School. He has two children, ages 18 and 17 that continue to keep him busy. When Ray has downtime, he enjoys spending time with his extended family in the area, barbequing, bird watching, river rafting, camping, detailing vehicles and tuned in to a Chiefs or Royals game. He also appreciates a great game of pool or bowling and relaxing with a fishing pole in hand. Ray volunteers some of his time working with RBI Baseball.

Steve Haynes

Grounds Maintenance

Zach Peel

Grounds Maintenance

Kay Lopez

Former Manager, Overland Park Chapel ~ Funeral Ambassador ~ Organist

Kay has worked at the Overland Park Chapel since 1970 and when the Johnson County Funeral Chapel was built in 1996, she worked at both locations. Kay started her career as an administrator but became a funeral director soon after . She was appointed manager of the Overland Park Chapel in 1982 and also managed the Johnson County Funeral Chapel when it opened in 1996. Kay retired from these positions in 2002 and now works part time helping on church and chapel funerals and plays the keyboard for services when needed. She is the organist at Prairie Baptist Church where she has been on staff for 45 years.

Kay has lived in the Kansas City area since middle school and graduated from Shawnee-Mission North, she then attended Emporia State University where she met her husband, Lindo. They were married for 53 years and he passed away last year. Lindo and Kay have two children, Donna Sosna and her husband Dennis and Brian Lopez and his wife Debbie. They also have two grandchildren Jennifer and David. 

Kay loves working in the funeral industry and enjoys helping people in their time of need. It has been a very rewarding career for Kay and she plans to continue doing this for a long time!

Jackie Clark

Funeral Ambassador

Jack was born in Kingsville Missouri and has lived in Kansas City, Kansas since he was 4 years old. He graduated from Wyandotte High School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1956-1960 on the U.S.S. Hancock Air Craft Carrier. Jack married his wife Mary in 1960 and they have a son, a daughter and a grandson.
Jack was in sales until Mary and him bought their own business. They sold their business in 1989 and retired. Jack has worked in the funeral business 16 years starting at D.W. Newcomer Sons. Jack has met some wonderful people while working in this business and has a dedication and passion for the families that he works with. 
Mary & Jack go to Texas in the winter to get away from the snow and cold. They have a lot of friends in Texas, which has become their second family away from home.

Ann Corcoran

Funeral Ambassador

Ann was born in Kansas City in 1942, the oldest of nine children. She is the matriarch of her huge, ever growing, family. She is a Registered Nurse and started her nursing career in 1962, being a hospital nurse, a staff RN and a Nursing Supervisor until 1980. She then worked as a Medical Disability Case Manager with Workers Compensation Insurance Company from 1980-2009 when she retired. When Ann has downtime, she will tell you that she enjoys sleeping, shopping, yoga and travel; all in that order.
In 2009, Ann joined the team, part time, at Johnson County Funeral Chapel & Memorial Gardens. She truly enjoys being part of the company and industry. Ann has an understanding that every situation is unique and special, she takes great pride in helping others in their time of need.

Robert Yannuzzi

Funeral Ambassador

Bob is originally from New Jersey and worked most of his life in sales. He relocated his family to the Kansas City area 25 years ago when he sold his business and have made a happy home in Kansas with his wife of 45 years, Dorothy.

Bob's desire to help others through a difficult time is a rewarding part time job now that he is retired. Bob knows that he is working with a group of compassionate and dedicated co-workers, which has made him pleased to be a part of the team.

William O'Brien

Funeral Ambassador

William is a sixth generation Kansas City native. He graduated from Westminster College majoring in Economics. Many of the last twenty years have been spent in other cities, but he is always promoting Kansas City in his travels. He has one son who has now graduated from college and initiated his career. William has many interests including books, history, travel, rugby and dogs. He looks forward to engaging in animal rescue in the future.

Mary Henshaw

Ambassador

Mary joined our team as an Ambassador in February, 2017. She is grateful and honored for the opportunity to serve families in the community who are struggling with loss and grief as she aspires to continue making a difference in people's lives. 

Born in Dallas, Mary grew up in Prairie Village, KS and graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School. She attended Baylor University, later receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Management Information Systems from Avila University. Following this, she was employed as a Sr. Programmer Analyst for Payless Cashways, Inc., until 2001 when the company ceased operation. Caring for her husband through several years of terminal illness led her to return to school at Missouri State University where she earned a Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies - her true calling. She was a devoted health care provider in the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth area in pulmonology/critical care, sleep medicine, internal medicine and family practice. Upon retiring the end of 2014, she returned to Overland Park where she thoroughly enjoys her role as "Grandma". Mary raised four sons and a daughter who now live in Overland Park, Leavenworth, Atlanta and South Carolina. She has seven cherished grandchildren, ranging in age from infant to late teens. Also in the family are three step-children and eight step-grandchildren. Spending time with family is a top priority!

Leisure interests are singing, playing piano, traveling, reading, gardening, crocheting and interior design. A participating member of United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Mary's activities there include leading in traditional worship with the choir and hand bells.

Rod Stuckey

Ambassador

Rod is a lifelong resident of Overland Park and Johnson County.  This is his home and he loves it here!  Rod and his lovely wife Jing continue to make Overland Park their home.  He is a retired business owner, working in and around the Johnson County area for many years.

Rod enjoys spending time with his family, his entire church community and volunteering time serving with his Church.  Rod’s passion is cars!!  He loves to tweak them, shine them and drive them.  He’s always happy to share information about his latest acquisition. 

Having been serving families in the funeral industry for over 10 years, Rod thoroughly enjoys helping families find comfort in their time of grief.  Serving as an ambassador, Rod can be found taking great care of our many guests with an attention to every detail, giving a cheerful friendly greeting, and superb service to our customers.  

Tom O'Rourke

Ambassador

Kenne Kuttler

Ambassador

Kenne Kuttler is a retired executive of The Kansas City Star who is now honored to help families celebrate the lives of their loved ones. 

Along with serving families as an Ambassador, Kenne is a Licensed Assistant Funeral Director, Certified Funeral Celebrant, and community liaison.

A Shawnee Mission North High School graduate, Kenne earned a Journalism degree from University of Kansas, and a master’s degree in Religion from Park University.   

Kenne enjoys playing with the Mission Bells bell choir at the Community of Christ Church where she is a minister.

Emma Thayer

Ambassador

Emma was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas.  She now resides with her husband of 35 years, Bill, in Lansing, Kansas.  Emma has three grown daughters and 3 grandsons.  Emma has worked in office administration, accounting, the health field as a pharmacy tech and helped start a grant funded after school program for elementary children.  She has been a stay at home wife, mom and Memaw for 9 years and enjoys working as an ambassador here at Johnson County Funeral Chapel.  Emma also works at her local quilt store in her spare time.   Emma enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, quilting, embroidery and volunteering with her local quilt guild.  

Russ Ewy

Ambassador

Russ is a native Kansan with roots in Wichita. He moved to Kansas City while the Royals were preparing to win their first World Series and joined Johnson County Funeral Chapel while the Royals were celebrating their second. Russ views his opportunity to serve families as a personal ministry. Russ’ background consists of 30 years in the marketing and public relations world. He “retired” to focus on real estate and mortgage interests. He loves to travel, and much of it on two wheels (bicycles and motorcycles). 

Cindy Wood

Funeral Ambassador

Eugene Estelle

Funeral Ambassador

Gilbert Mendoza

Funeral Ambassador