Obituary
Paul M. Vance passed peacefully the morning of August 3 rd , 2020 at his home in John Knox Village. Born December 3 rd , 1930 in Kansas City, Mo. to G.M. and Lillian Vance. Paul is survived by his loving wife of 65 years Donna (Wamberg) Vance, Daughter Leslie Soulis and husband Steve of Lee’s Summit, son Mitch Vance of Newport, Oregon, daughter Julie Paradise and husband Robert of Lee’s Summit and grandson’s Carter and Parker Willis of Kansas City.
Paul lived his entire life in Raytown and Kansas City until moving to John Knox Village four years ago. A great athlete, Paul played football for Raytown High School. He then attended Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas and was member of Kappa Sig fraternity. Upon graduation, he served his country in the Korean war. After his time was served Paul returned to the family business, Vance Brothers, Inc. a nearly 100 year old family asphalt business. Paul was in the contracting division installing roadways and parking lots from southern Missouri to Iowa. A very hard worker, Paul loved his job and took great pride in a job “well done.” Paul worked for Vance Brothers until his retirement at the age of 60. Paul, Donna and family attended Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church in Raytown. He served as a deacon and elder and was at the church nearly every day helping perform “odd’s and ends”. He loved serving the church and the entire congregation loved Paul and Donna. Not being able to go the church in the last year was a difficult thing for Paul.
Paul married Donna who was from the small town of Wausa, Nebraska on June 19th, 1955. They just celebrated 65 years of marriage. Truly a wonderful love story and inspiration to all. Paul and Donna loved to travel. Annual family ski trips to Colorado, (you couldn’t take trips in the summer when you were in the asphalt business!), Australia, China, Scotland and many places in between.
Paul was always the life of the party! Always outgoing and friendly, Paul had a way to make everyone around him feel as if they were his best friend. Any one you mentioned Paul to would always say the same thing; what a great guy! A good steak and a cold Manhattan with family and friends would always illicit a hearty “Oh Boy!” and would make everyone smile. Paul never met a person he didn’t like. Paul and Donna were blessed to have many lifelong friends in which they kept in touch over the many years. We should all be as fortunate as Paul Vance. If there was ever a man to look upon and say, “what a wonderful life”, it was Paul. This simple history of Paul could never justify what his life truly was. HE WLL BE MISSED BEYOND WORDS. Visitation at 1:00pm on Saturday, August 8, 2020. Memorial Celebration of Life will follow at 2:00pm will be held at Langsford Funeral Home, Lee’s Summit Mo. Memorial contribution can be made to Village Hospice, Nurses Next Door, or the Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church.
Condolences
Visitation
Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Services
Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
These remarks fit Paul to a tee. He was a wonderful man to the very core. He brought pure joy to everyone in his aura, no one was a stranger to him. Missed he will certainly be ..forgotten, never. Our sincere condolences to Donna and their family. Charlotte Belger and the Raytown Historical Society members.
I will so miss Paul’s calling across the green expanses between our houses saying fun and teasing friendly words. Family, please feel my virtual hug and heartfelt sympathy and a special one for you, Donna.
Donna
We can’t get out to see you, but please know we are thinking of you and share in the memories of all our good times together. Paul was the nicest, sweetest guy we ever had the privilege to know and we will miss him.
Our love to you. George and Martha
What a lovely tribute and it is so true – HE WILL BE MISSED BEYOND WORDS. Paul and Donna have been such dear friends to our parents Sandy and Larry through the years – going all the way back to the Baker Kappa Sig days. A better friend has not been known. Thinking of Donna and the entire family.
Claudia & Mitch, Matt & Martha, Sandy and Larry
Paul was a man that I have always highly respected as a great man. He was an inspiration and a wonderful mentor for how a man should provide and offer guidance to his family and friends of the family. Paul certainly made others life more positive with his humor and knowledge.
My condolences to the Vance family and my prayers with each of you.
My many years of working, laughing and learning with Paul are still being called upon everyday in my journeys. I owe a lot of people skills and people friendships to Paul. My love to Donna, Julie, Leslie and Mitch.
My condolences to the entire Vance family, on the passing of this fun and loving man. Always a smile, always a hug, such a sweetheart of a person. Rest easy Paul.
I remember so clearly meeting Paul for the first time–and that was important in our little town of Wausa. It was such fun to know him well from the very beginning. The description of him is perfect.
Lou