Larry Chaney Kaiser

Born in Savannah, MO and raised in Mexico, MO with Richard Lee, his older brother by six years, Larry’s childhood and school years were filled with school band, choirs, basketball, tennis and scouting. A local civic group sponsored Larry to attend the National Scouting Jamboree in Santa Anna, California in 1953 which only helped cement a lifelong love of the outdoors.

Larry earned several scholarships to attend the University of Missouri – Columbia. During college, he was involved in ROTC, played trumpet in the marching band (taking him to two Orange Bowls), University Singers, Baptist Student Union and Alpha Tau Omega.

Following graduation in 1962, Larry served in active duty with the Army at Fort. Chaffee in Arkansas. After active duty and while in the Army reserves, Larry earned his Master’s degree in Counseling at the University of Missouri – Kansas City while teaching math at Ervin Jr. High in the Hickman Mills School District.

Larry was a founding member of Red Bridge Baptist Church where he met his life’s love, Barbara Dorman. They were married at that church in 1966 where Larry went on to become finance chairman and the youngest person to serve as deacon. Both Larry and Barbara sang in the choir and taught Sunday school at Red Bridge as well as other churches they attended throughout their life including South Kansas City Baptist, First Baptist of Raytown, MO and Abundant Life in Lee’s Summit, MO. His love of the Creator and the warm fellowship of treasured friends led them to many volunteering, discipling and worship opportunities over their 58 years of marriage.

In 1972, Larry and Barbara adopted their son, Matthew. Family was of upmost importance to Larry and he was fully involved in his son’s life through volunteering at school, camping with scouting, hosting youth groups and creating holiday celebrations for their extended family. When finished with work and chores of a late evening, Larry would regularly fill the house with his piano playing and singing out his favorite southern gospel or country music songs.

His professional success came from an early interest in the emerging field of computing. He left teaching for BMA (Business Man’s Assurance) and then moved United Telecom where he was their first employee in Kansas City (they offered him stock as opposed to a paycheck – spoiler: United Telecom went on to become a little company called Sprint.) After leaving private business, he worked for the Dept. of Agriculture for five years before spending 35 years with Federal Aviation Administration overseeing their payroll technology – which at the time were mainframes that took up entire rooms. After retiring from FAA, he worked part-time for several more years with H&R Block both preparing taxes and then providing Quality Assurance support for their tax software.

Larry’s full and complete life was bookended with his beloved family at home and his friends through the church. His easy smile and contented nature created generation-stretching connections with relatives and friends. Even into the years of their retirement, life continued to be filled with social lunches, group trips to Branson, weekend get-togethers, shared dinners and celebrations.

Larry is survived by his loving wife, Barbara; his son, Matthew & Jennifer Kaiser of Leawood, KS and their children Faith & Orion, a sister-in-law and husband in Lees Summit, MO, a sister-in-law, two nephews in Texas, a cousin in California, and many cousins and other loved ones in the Kansas City, Hickory County, MO, Jonesburg, MO and Fort Worth, TX areas. Larry was preceded in death by his mother, Wilma Irene Kaiser of Mexico, MO; his father, Lee Elmer Kaiser of Mountain Grove, MO and his brother, Richard Lee Kaiser of Dallas, TX.

A visitation for Larry will be held Monday, November 4, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Abundant Life, 304 SW Persels Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64081. A funeral service will occur Monday, November 4, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 304 SW Persels Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64081. A committal service in Mt. Moriah cemetery will occur Monday, November 4, 2024 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Mount Moriah Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO 64131.