Estill Ventura

Estill Earl Ventura, 79, of Paola, Kansas passed away June 9, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born May 2, 1930 in Kansas City, Kansas. His parents were George and Fannie (Krenzky) Ventura. George Ventura passed away in 1936 when Earl was six years old and Carlton Joy was his Dad from 1937 until his death in 1968. Earl grew up in a tight-knit Italian neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas. He graduated from Rosedale High School in 1949 and started college at Kansas City, Kansas Junior College. Earl met Betty Bosley in high school and they were married July 31, 1951, just as he was drafted into the Army. He served as a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne until 1953. He returned to KCK Junior College; then finished his American History bachelor"s degree in 1957 and Masters Degree in 1958 at Kansas State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University) in Pittsburg, Kansas. While at Pittsburg he served as Student Assistant Football Coach to Carnie Smith. He taught and coached at the High School level for 36 years. Earl loved to coach; track and basketball were his favorites. He began his career at the high school in LaCygne, Kansas where he stayed for 7 years. The family then moved to Paola, Kansas, where he would teach history and coach several different sports at Paola High School for the next 29 years. His former students and athletes still have appreciation for his guidance and many remained in contact throughout his life. One recently wrote to him, "Coach, you're a great guy and it was an honor being a member of your basketball and track teams. You touched many lives in a very positive way over the years including mine." Earl gave of his time generously and credited Betty with assuming extra home duties so he could be on the field or court. He coached Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams in LaCygne and Paola for many years. He officiated for football and basketball. During the years he was teaching in LaCygne he was employed through the summer school breaks, working at Fry Roofing Company, Griffin Wheel and General Motors. In Paola he painted houses and formed a family house painting crew. Earl was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church of Paola in 1965 and would serve as Deacon, Elder and Sunday school teacher. He served on the Paola Housing Authority for many years and on the Paola City Council for 7 years. Those can be thankless jobs, but he felt it was important to serve his community. He was very proud to have helped plan for the Paola pool. There weren"t many people who were as physically active as Earl, both before and after his retirement. His normal attire after retirement was a pair of shorts or sweats and a KU t-shirt. He participated in recreational volleyball as well as competing in senior track and field events and decathlons; starting in his 50"s and continuing for about 15 years. He set many local and national records in track competitions. From 1993 through 2008, he played senior softball with teams including the Kansas City Antiques. The Antiques were a competitive ball club and he was consistently their MVP. Earl and Betty traveled throughout the U.S. going to softball tournaments establishing memories and making many good friends. Even though he was a very good athlete and team member, he was always humble and never called attention to the results of a contest. He loved to watch KU basketball, Royals baseball, and to attend Pitt State football games. Earl is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty and his five children and their spouses, Bob and Jana Ventura of Carthage, Missouri, Jim and Dianne Ventura of Greeley, Kansas, Sherry and Maurice Ball of Paola, John and Patty Ventura of Sutton, West Virginia, and Susan and Tim Ahrens of Ottawa, Kansas. He was a strong, loving and constant presence in the lives of his grandchildren, Chris Ventura, Tyler, Tony and Amanda Ahrens, Jamie and Joe Ball, and adopted grandchildren James and Amanda Meeks. His great-grandchildren are Elijah and Ashton Ventura, Kaden John Farrow and Tyler Hayden. He is also survived by his brother and wife, Joe and Marguerite Ventura of Kansas City, Kansas and his nephew and wife, Joe and Staci Ventura of Overland Park, Kansas and their children, JJ, Victoria, Veronica, Valerie and Sammy. Visitation will be held at the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Paola on Friday, June 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. A celebration of his life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Paola on Saturday, June 13th at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Paola Cemetery. Contributions in Earl"s memory may be made to Hospice of Olathe Medical Center or First Presbyterian Church of Paola. """""""""""""" Paola Presbyterian Church (Peoria St.) Service: Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:00 AM Visitation: Friday, June 12, 2009 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM