Shirley Kudrna, 88, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026, surrounded by family. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 11300 W 103rd Street, Overland Park, Kansas, with visitation at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Lenexa, Kansas.
Shirley was born February 1, 1938, in Dickinson, North Dakota, to Lee and Margaret (Armbrust) Berger. On August 25, 1958, she married her high school sweetheart, Raymond “Ray” Kudrna, who had just completed his service in the United States Army. While waiting for Ray to return from military service, Shirley worked as a switchboard operator for AT&T. Once married, Ray began a life long career in the retail industry, and Shirley loved the adventure of moving from place to place for his career. After beginning married life in North Dakota, the couple moved to Wyoming, Utah, Missouri, and Kansas. Along the way they raised five children and eventually settled in Overland Park, KS, for well over 40 years.
Once the children were mostly grown, Shirley had a long career working for various optometrists and ophthalmologists in Overland Park. Her coworkers became her friends and she cherished those relationships into retirement. Faith and family were of utmost importance to Shirley. The children and grandchildren are left with fond memories of family Thanksgivings, Christmases, and Easters….and taking up two or three entire pews at holiday Masses.
Shirley is survived by her five children, Pam (Jerry) Ford, Kimberling City, MO, Kim (Jim) Buck, Olathe, KS, Greg (Kelly) Kudrna, Overland Park, KS, Lisa (Mike) Olson, Lake Quivira, KS, Todd (Wendy) Kudrna, Overland Park, KS; eleven grandchildren, Amy (Vic) Roppolo, Annie (Ben) Grashoff, Michael (Hailey) Buck, Lauren (Justin) Williams, Stephen (Ashley) Pretzer, Curtis (Erika) Kudrna, Connor Kudrna, Cara (Michael) Schnabel, Katie Kudrna, Ben Kudrna, and Megan Kudrna; nine great grandchildren, Jacob Hill, Nathan Roppolo, Rae Grashoff, Caroline “Coco” Grashoff, Arya Williams, Jacob Pretzer, Brooklyn Pretzer, Matthew Pretzer, and Skylar Kudrna; three more great grandchildren are expected in the summer of 2026; four sisters, Rosella Berger, San Antonio, TX, Rita Loerzel, Dickinson, ND, Angela Klar, San Antonio, TX, and Marje Berger, Bismark, ND; and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, Ray Kudrna; her parents, Lee and Margaret Berger; 2 brothers, Richard Berger, and Robert “Bob” Berger; and numerous extended family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Overland Park, KS in Shirley Kudrna’s honor.