Brian Michael Shanahan

November 19, 1969 - October 29, 2022

On October 29, 2022 Brian Michael Shanahan’s soul was released from his body to journey onward to meet his parents, grandparents, his wire hair fox terriers and his Creator awaiting him in Heaven. While he is adventuring in the splendor of mountains, trails and streams beyond our mere human imaginations, we will celebrate his life by finding the good and wonder before us.

Brian was born November 19, 1969 in Omaha, Nebraska to Michael and Julie Shanahan. Brian and his family lived in Canoga Park, California during his earliest years. This is where he and his brother were picked up and treated to ice cream by the local police for venturing too far on their big wheels. The family later moved to Leawood, KS were Brian attended Cure of Ars Elementary School and Rockhurst High School. At the University of Kansas he joined the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, met his wife and graduated with a Political Science B.A. degree in 1993.

Brian began his 27 year career with Toyota Motor Company in St. Louis before moving back to Overland Park, Kansas and marrying his wife in 1999. He respected his company and believed in its products. He was loyal. Most of his years he worked in finance sales traveling to dealerships. Brian was delighted by the birth of his premature and healthy twins Braeden and Abigail. Brian loved and was proud of both of them. He was impressed with their resilient nature as preemie babies and then their interests, abilities and love of learning as elementary and middle schoolers.

Brian was a gentleman who was careful in his words, humble in his knowledge, generous in what he could give and private in his feelings and his suffering of a disease that took his life. His disease was a hardship on him, his wife and his children. Brian is now free of its torment and his family will move forward remembering all the goodness in his soul instead of the hardship of disease.

Brian enjoyed watching professional and college football, KU basketball, music and live concerts, camping, fishing and hiking in the mountains. He was a great cook and enjoyed helping out in the kitchen…when it involved entertaining guests. He was self-sufficient to a fault. He could easily listen to others talk and share opinions about things he knew more about without responding or trying to prove himself. He would just listen.

Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Julie Shanahan, as well as his grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Gretchen Shanahan, their children, Braeden Shanahan and Abigail Shanahan, his brothers, Kevin Shanahan and Tom Shanahan, his step-mother Debbie Shanahan and many other Shanahan and Brewer family and friends who loved him.

Family and friends who knew Brian are invited to his memorial service and visitation on Saturday, November 19th, which was his birth date. Visitation will be held 1pm-3pm and Memorial will follow and begin at 3pm. Both will be held at Butler Funeral Home at Chapel Hill Cemetery at 701 N 94th Street, Kansas City, KS 66112. His ashes will be privately laid to rest at a later date with his family. In lieu of flowers, food, etc., please consider a donation to First Call, 9091 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO. 64114. In the months ahead, the family would enjoy gathering with friends and family for dining out, game nights and outdoor activities.