Ben A. Blackshire

The oldest of two sons, Ben was born in Mountain Grove, Missouri, on August 25, 1936, to Don and Metta (Harris) Blackshire.

He graduated from Southeast High School, attended college at the University of Tulsa and the University of Kansas, earning a degree in Geology. He then went on to earn his MBA from Rockhurst University in the inaugural class of the Executive Fellows Program.

Ben will be remembered for his eternal optimism and resilient spirit—never giving up until he reached his goal, even in times of adversity. He strived for excellence and kept his focus on constant self-improvement. Ben shared his strength with a firm handshake, as well as his signature backhand in a competitive tennis game. He was a lifelong learner and an avid reader. He appreciated the wisdom of Og Mandino and the intrigue of Tom Clancy. He was interested not only in hearing but listening to other people’s stories. He was surrounded by friends who loved his warm smile, wonderful laugh and the twinkle in his eye.

He often talked about his formative experience in the Boy Scouts, where he rose to Eagle Scout and the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. There, he learned both confidence and humility, and the importance of teamwork. He attended the Boy Scout Jamboree as a teenager, camping and fishing along the way near Flathead Lake in Montana. Fishing became a lifelong passion. As an adult, he spent an annual week or two in the Canadian wilderness fishing with friends. He loved all sports, whether playing or watching, including basketball, football, tennis and golf.

Ben applied a methodical approach to building a successful career. His entrepreneurial spirit came to light at age 8 when he started picking up bottles for the deposit money, which he used to buy black walnut ice cream and Hostess cupcakes. By age 10, he ran a sidewalk shoe shine stand downtown. He meticulously shined his own shoes the rest of his life. Ben’s natural, easygoing, assured sense of self remained rooted in these humble beginnings.

He spent the majority of his career at Marion Laboratories in pharmaceutical sales and marketing. He enjoyed many successful years at the company and helped establish the Marion Legends group of former employees. During his time there, he traveled the world, collecting wine along the way. After Marion, Ben pursued several business ventures, including a healthcare consultant firm and a commercial real estate business, where he worked with his sons.

Ben was a generous, devoted, and loving husband, father and grandfather who loved to dispense wisdom, oftentimes written out in his beautiful penmanship on an available napkin during dinner. He was a man of faith and integrity. He made family a priority despite the demands of his career and enjoyed coaching, counseling, supporting and celebrating each of his children’s endeavors. His eight grandchildren held a special place in his heart. He, in turn, will remain in theirs.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Kathryn (Sicola), his sons Michael and John, and his daughters Christina, Elizabeth, and Jennifer Hense, her husband John, and their children, Marielle, Jake, Nicholas, Bennett, Aidan, Christian, Gia, and Elijah Hense. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, James Robert.

The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 8, at 11 a.m. at Church of the Nativity, 3800 W 119th St, Leawood, KS 66209. A Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., with a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. A private burial will be held after Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Church of the Nativity, American Heart Association, or the Boy Scouts of America.

"Ben was a harbor with hazel eyes that matched the ocean. He had the unique ability to welcome. He could sit without words despite the passage of time, if you needed patience and love, or engage heartily if you preferred camaraderie and a glass of fine wine. Whether discussing fishing, sports, business strategy, or the meaning of life, Ben embraced the art of conversation. He was a rare human, but a real man; not a legend, but legendary. His legacy and spirit will live on each time we ground ourselves to the earth or gaze up at the sky in gratitude for the gift of life, and the opportunity to love one another as God has loved us."