Claude Michael Aldridge

Claude Michael Aldridge of Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, December 4th, 2024 after being diagnosed with Glioblastoma brain cancer in September 2024. He was born in 1950 in Kansas City to George and Rosemary Aldridge. Claude was raised in Prairie Village with his three siblings, Millard, Anne, and Kathleen. Claude attended St. Ann Catholic Grade School, Rockhurst High School and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1972. He married Jean whom he met on a blind date at KU. They were married in 1972 at St. Ann Catholic Church.

In his last semester at KU, Claude began working as an agent for Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company (now Mass Mutual). He became a supervisor while working at the Roger Boeger Agency. Claude then became a General Agent having agencies first in El Paso, TX, then in Milwaukee, WI. He became a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 1975. In 1982, he earned the designation of a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Finally, in 1985, he earned his Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS). Claude moved back to Kansas City to be closer to his family. He started two businesses, Financial Resource of Kansas City, Inc. and the Aldridge Financial Group. Both Jean and son, Claude, worked with him at different times. After suffering a stroke, he sold both businesses and retired in 2011.

In April 2002, Claude was diagnosed with a very painful facial condition called trigeminal neuralgia. Claude knew no one with this condition at the time of diagnosis. He and Jean started the Kansas City Trigeminal Neuralgia Association Support Group, which is still active today. Claude was later appointed to the National Board of Directors for the Facial Pain Association. He served on the Board for 13 years and was a peer mentor to many who were suffering from this terrible condition.

One of Claude’s passions was KU football and basketball. He held season tickets to football and basketball since his college graduation. Until his health started to deteriorate, he and his family attended many out of town tournament games, Final Fours, and were in attendance for both the 1988 and 2008 National Championship wins. Claude was an excellent tennis player, and later in life enjoyed playing ping pong with his friends at Santa Marta. Claude loved to fish, go to the gym, travel the world, and read on the beach. He had an undeniable love for pizza and cinnamon rolls. Claude was a loyal friend and enjoyed meeting his friends for coffee, lunch, or at the gym. However, his favorite joy in life was being a husband, father, and grandfather.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Anne Schrader. Claude is survived by his wife, Jean, of 52 years, his son Claude (Cat), and daughters Beth (Jayme) and Kelly (Andrew) and his brother Millard Aldridge (Marilyn) and sister Kathleen Uebelhart (Bill). He was also a proud grandfather of 13 grandchildren, Tripp, Jack, Brady, Charlotte, Luke, William, Darby, Jack, Liz, Lyla, Graham, Drew, and Madeline.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 12th from 6-8 pm at McGilley State Line Chapel on State Line Road. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:45 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 13 at Church of the Nativity in Leawood, KS at 10 am.

The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to https://www.facepain.org.