Ivan E. Ubben

Ivan E. Ubben, 79 passed away peacefully Thursday, May 28, 2015 with family by his side. Ivan was born November 26, 1935 the son of Mahlon and Caroline Ubben in Marshall County, KS. He grew up on a farm in Beattie, Kansas and graduated as a Beattie High School Tiger in 1953. He met his “best girlfriend ever”, Ardith A. Justis, while in high school and she became his wife of 60 years in September of 1954. He served his country in the United States Marine Corp with the 3D Amphibian Tractor Battalion Fleet Marine Force at Camp Pendleton, California from 1952 to 1954. Ivan worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation as a land surveying crew member for 2 years after his honorable discharge from the Marines. He then attended Kansas State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in August, 1962. After college Ivan and Ardith moved to Raytown, Missouri where he remained the rest of his life. Ivan began his career as a Professional Engineer at the Missouri Department of Transportation where he gained experience and many lifelong friends. In 1973 he accepted a job at Larkin Associates in Kansas City, MO where he continued his career as a Professional Engineer and became a Professional Land surveyor too. Ivan became a principal of the firm in 1985 and remained there until his first retirement in 1999. Ivan couldn’t sit still and began working part time with a few of his former co-workers and great friends that formed the firm Affinis Corp in Overland Park, KS. In 2004 he went back to work full time for the City of Independence, Missouri where he worked until his second retirement in September, 2014. He really enjoyed his professions working to make our infrastructures better and safer, mentoring young engineers, and playing a card game of Pitch at lunch time. In his off time he enjoyed sharing meals with family, traveling, visiting zoos throughout the Midwest, and making people laugh. He also enjoyed watching high school sports and taking his grandchildren to KSU basketball and football games on weekends. His one “for sure” annual trip was to attend the Beattie Milo Festival with family and friends in August of every year. He was very proud of his youthful farming years, being a Marine, an Engineer and Land Surveyor, a KSU Alumni, and devoted family member.

He was preceded in death by one son, Douglas E. Ubben in 2013 and a brother, Arlyn Ubben in 2014. In addition to his wife Ardith of Raytown, MO, he is survived by two sons, Greg Ubben (Cindy) of Shawnee, KS and Robert Ubben (Mandy) of Raytown, MO; a daughter, Laura Davis (Bud) of Raytown MO; a daughter in-law, Marcia of Shawnee, KS; one sister, Iola Albright; four brothers, Keith, David, Wendell, and Gary Ubben; twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to River of Refuge at 5155 Raytown Road, Suite 101, Kansas City, MO 64133 where the funds will help families in and near the community Ivan spent his entire adult life and will show support of his main core values of family and being selfless to others.

Visitation will be Monday, June 1, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. at Floral Hills Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at 10 a.m. also at the funeral home. Burial will follow. Condolences may be left at www.floralhillsfuneralhome.com.

Arr. D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., KCMO, (816) 353-1218.