John Denis Albers

Valery Alexandrovich Zhemchugov was born December 16, 2000 in Minsk, Belarus. He came home with his parents, Steve and Sheila Albers, and became a U.S. citizen on May 24, 2002. He was named John Denis Albers after his grandfathers, Bernard John Albers and Denis Vincent Birrane. John was active in BVNW wrestling, BVNW soccer and club sports; he particularly enjoyed TOCA F.C. and TOCA City. TOCA City is a soccer based outreach program located in Kansas City, Kansas targeting at-risk-kids from ages 7-18. John loved the program and planned to “reach kids through sports” as a career in the future. John was a beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, teammate and friend. He will be missed.

Survivors include: Parents – Steve and Sheila Albers; Brothers – Tommy and Patrick Albers; Grandmother – Lyn Birrane; Aunts/Uncles - Christine Goodman (Birrane) and Tony Goodman; Cathy Kidwell (Albers); Cousins – Kyle and Hillary Kidwell, Kelly and Chase Davisson, Brian and Kaitlin Schmid; Second cousins, friends, coaches and teachers are too numerous to name, but not forgotten. All of you had an enormous impact on John throughout the years.

John loved both Blue Valley Northwest and his club soccer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: TOCA F.C., Memo: John Albers, PO Box 4306, Olathe, Kansas 66063; and/or Blue Valley Educational Foundation, Donations can be made online at fundbv.org/donate or mailed to BVEF, 15020 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66223.

Services are scheduled for Friday, January 26, 2018 with Visitation from 1-3 pm at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 4 pm at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1001 E. 52nd Street, Kansas City, MO. Please share a memory or note of condolence at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com.