November 14, 1951 - August 7, 2021 

Our beloved husband, father and papa, Howard L. Breeding, 69, passed away from lymphoma on Saturday, August 7, 2021 with his wife and daughters by his side at Kansas City Hospice House. He fought quite the battle and was not ready to give up even when his body was failing him.  He loved his family so very, very much and had so much more life that he wanted to live.

Howard was born November 14, 1951 in Marysville, KS to Beverly Ann (Binggeli) and Loren Robert Breeding.   Howard attended elementary school in Marysville and after a family move to Manhattan, KS he graduated from Manhattan High School.  Howard was quite the athlete.  He participated in almost every sport in high school and continued to enjoy many athletic activities throughout his life and did them all well.  Some of his favorite things to do were water skiing and golfing. He attended Washburn University in Topeka, KS for one year, pitching on their baseball team.  Howard then transferred to Kansas State University from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art.  He continued on towards a second degree in construction engineering but detoured off that path when the decision was made to come to Kansas City and help his father-in-law in the family business Kansas City Rug Company.  He also had a ServiceMaster of Kansas City franchise. In 1986 Howard made a career change and became director of engineering at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. He ran the engineering department that was responsible for an almost 800 - room hotel.  After the brand change from Hyatt to Sheraton, Howard soon moved to the Downtown Marriott as director of engineering where he stayed until he retired 4 years ago.  Howard was highly thought of for his hands-on management style, his patience and his ability to figure out how to solve problems, as well as just being an all-around kind person, highly thought of boss and loyal employee.

Howard was a warm, witty and kind man.  He would help anyone with any project and do so happily.  One of his great joys was traveling anywhere with family and friends. He was a great chef and loved good wine.  His happy place was on Beaver Lake in Arkansas where he had many wonderful times with family and friends.  Howard was a creative craftsman and a talented builder.  He could fix just about anything, except the disease he fought so hard.

Howard is survived by his wife of 47 years and best friend, Sue Ellen Ericson Breeding; daughters, Emma Breeding Chandler and Ellen Christine Breeding; son-in-law, Brian Chandler; 3 grandchildren, McKenzie, Mady and Max Chandler, and his brother-in-law, Larry Krupicka.  He also leaves many more family members and friends who were considered part of his family. Howard was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Deborah Breeding Krupicka. 

The family requests no flowers and suggests donations to Kansas City Hospice House or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or to a charity of your choosing.  

Private internment of cremains. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, September 26, 2021 from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Johnson County Arts and Hertitage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kansas.