Mardel Geane (Lofsted) Lillard died at her home in Claridge Court August 26, 2016. Mardel was born March 16, 1931 in Chicago, IL, to Arvid Delmar Lofsted and Ethel Marilyn (Howell) Lofsted. She arrived in Kansas City in time to enroll in the second grade at J.C. Nichols grade school and stayed to graduate from Southwest High School in 1948 and go on to the University of Missouri, graduating in 1952 with a BS in Education. She was a proud member of Delta Gamma sorority, including a current membership in the Silver Streakers.
Mardel and David H. Lillard were married in September 1952 and promptly moved to Akron, OH where Dave was employed. They returned to the Kansas City area in 1954 when Dave joined Black & Veatch. Mardel became a proud Prairie Village resident until her death, parenting four children through Corinth Elementary School, Meadowbrook Junior High, and Shawnee Mission East.
Mardel was a consummate volunteer – PTA, classroom mother-teacher, and Campfire leader with her children, and later at the Saint Luke’s Hospital information desk and surgery waiting room. She was an active member of Village Presbyterian Church where she served as an Elder, Shepherd Deacon and Stephen Minister as well as an active volunteer in the Food Pantry and Mission Sewing group. She was a member of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers – Western Chapter Auxiliary and the Saint Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary.
Preceded in death by her parents and sons David and John, Mardel is survived by husband, David, daughters Diane Gwirtz (Jeffrey) of Lawrence, KS, and Sandra Lillard of Columbia, MO; daughter-in-law Beverly Lillard of LaBelle, MO; grandchildren Amanda Nestler (Luke) of Lawrence, KS; Rachel Downey (Stephen) of Lake St. Louis, MO; Heather Shirey (Seth) of Athens, TX; and Kyle Gwirtz of Tucson, AZ; and four great-grandchildren, Woodson and Emerie Downey, Colin and Arie Shirey.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, September 3rd, Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS. A reception will follow immediately in the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Village Church Food Pantry or Memorial Fund, or to a charity of your choice.
