1949-2026
Paula Holmgren Silvey was born in Webster City, Iowa on November 20, 1949, the first child of Paul and Edna Holmgren. Less than a year later, the family moved to Boone, Iowa where her brother, David, was born two years later. As Paula grew through childhood and adolescence, she became a noticeably attractive, lively, high energy, athletic person with a growing extroverted and vivacious personality that easily won her friends throughout her life. In 1959, the family moved to Des Moines where her father opened what became a very successful real estate business. She attended schools in the Saydel school district and in the Des Moines school district. After the family moved into the city, she became a new student at East High School with a total enrollment of 1,700 students. Just a year later, she had become so popular that her senior class of 600 students elected her as their Homecoming Queen. Yet her natural modesty led her to rarely, if ever, mention this popular achievement at such a young age to new friends and acquaintances during her adult years.
After high school graduation, she attended Grand View College and Drake University, both in Des Moines, but never graduated. She married Charles Silvey in 1970, and they had two children, Patrick Silvey and Kelly Silvey. She devoted her early and middle adult years to raising the children and also became active in churches in the various communities in which they lived. They moved from Des Moines to Chicago in 1973, then to Springfield, Illinois in 1977, to the St. Louis area in 1981, and finally to the Kansas City area in 1990. She lived the rest of her life in this area, first in Overland Park, then Olathe, and finally in Lenexa. She held fervent Christian beliefs and became very active in every church that she attended. Her beliefs also led her into political activism as well.
After her children had grown and left home, she decided to renew her educational efforts. She attended Johnson County Community College briefly in 2008, was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Intercultural Studies with high honors from Calvary Bible University in 2008, and was awarded a Master of Science degree in Bible and Theology from Calvary Theological Seminary in 2010.
Sadly, she started experiencing health issues with Parkinsonism about the time of her educational achievements and in 2016 moved to Lakeview Village in Lenexa. She resided there the rest of her life. As usual, she made many friends at Lakeview during those final years. She died peacefully at AdventHealth Hospital on May 13, 2026.
Her greatest joy in life was being a mother to her two children, Patrick and Kelly. She lived with a deep and abiding passion for Jesus Christ, dedicating herself to outreach evangelism and a lifelong walk of faith. God's hand was evident in every chapter of her story, and she served faithfully in children's ministries, outreach programs, international missions, and in the prayer ministries of International Students Incorporated (ISI KC) and Lakeview Village.
She loved to travel and explored more than a dozen countries throughout her life, including France, Australia, and the United Kingdom with her daughter. Her days were brightened by daily walks and lunch with friends and her daughter, Sunday Bible study, and time spent with her son's family and her beloved grandson, Rowan. Her life was a testament to faith, love, and joyful service, and she leaves behind a legacy of kindness, devotion, and a heart that welcomed everyone she met.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Edna Holmgren, in 1989, and by her father, Paul Holmgren, in 2005. She is survived by her son, Patrick Silvey, his wife, Nicole, and their son, Rowan; her daughter, Kelly Silvey; her brother, David Holmgren, and many friends.
The family would like to thank all the people in her life, especially her devoted friends and the wonderful staff at Lakeview for their loving care during her 10 years as a resident. She was surrounded with heartfelt support, loyal friendship, and so much love. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 23rd at Lakeview Village, 9100 Park Street, Lenexa, KS. To honor Paula's life, the family requests donations to the Lakeview Village Foundation on line at Foundation - Lakeview Village.
