Darleen Ann Henninger

Darleen Ann Henninger, 72, passed away on January 1, 2023 after a short battle with cancer. The daughter of Catherine Tomlin and Wilfred Allen “Tom” Tomlin, II, Darleen was born in Kansas City, Kansas on August 5, 1950. She married Michael Henninger in 1975 and together they raised five children, Charlie, Michael, Lauren, Stacy, and Sally.

Darleen attended Visitation Catholic School, went on to St. Teresa’s for high school, and graduated St. Mary’s College with a degree in radiologist tech. Darleen worked as a radiologist tech until she and Michael started their family, and then she turned her full attention to what she loved most: raising her children and being a loving wife and mother.

Darleen was preceded in death by her parents, along with children, Sally and Charlie. She is survived by her husband, Michael; her brothers, Michel Tomlin and Allen Tomlin; and her sister, Jeanne (Tomlin) Schmidt; son, Michael; and daughters, Lauren Welsh (Adam) and Stacy; and her grandchildren, John Henninger, Lilly Henninger, Graham Welsh, Harper Welsh and Joseph Henninger.

Darleen was love personified. Every life, every person she touched was better because of her and the love and compassion she brought with her to every encounter. She was a loyal friend and confidante, she was there for her children at every turn, and she loved being a grandmother more than life itself. To her beloved grandchildren, she was “Granny D,” or simply “Ma” and she was passionate about spending every moment with those children that she possibly could. She was fun, fond of adventure, and full of laughter, and she had a knack for making even the most ordinary experiences extraordinary ones. To her grandchildren, she was the sun and moon, and everything in between.

When she wasn’t entertaining grandkids, Darleen loved the simple pleasures. She particularly enjoyed camping in the mountains, trips to New Orleans to visit family, making pies that were to-die-for, transforming bushels of tomatoes into her delicious tomato sauce, and cooking amazing meals. Darleen was remarkably witty and possessed of a quiet, dry sense of humor. She very much enjoyed a good laugh, and she loved taking care of the people in her life — that was evident in everything she did.

Darleen weathered innumerable tragedies and many challenges during her lifetime, not the least of which was losing two children along the way — the most difficult experience any parent will ever have. But she was an incredibly strong woman, and her faith, her family, and her many friends helped her get through those toughest of times. And, in spite of her own challenges, Darleen always had love to give and a shoulder to lend to anyone in need — no matter the circumstances, she was the most loving and most loyal of friends.

Darleen and Michael have raised their grandson, Joseph, for the last decade. The family has established a fund to provide for Joseph’s education moving forward, and the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joseph Henninger and delivered to Visitation Catholic Church at 5141 Main St., KCMO.

We’re not quite sure how to live without Darleen in our lives. She was the matriarch of our family, our North Star, and our guiding light, always there for all of us any time we needed her. It brings us comfort to know that she’s now reunited with her beloved Sally and Charlie, and that she’s free from the pain that she’s been enduring these last months. We will miss her terribly but are ever grateful to have been lucky enough to have lived our lives with the best wife and mother any family could ever ask for.

The visitation will be held on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Visitation Catholic Church, 5141 Main St. Kansas City, MO 64112, with Mass of Christian Burial at noon. Darleen will be laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery.