Tom Bark Kretsinger Jr.

1955 - 2018

Tom Bark Kretsinger, Jr. A celebration of the life of Tom Bark Kretsinger, Jr., an attorney and the former president and CEO of American Central Transport, will be held at 3:00 pm on June 10, 2018 at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 West 13th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, followed by a reception in the adjoining Founders Hall. Tom passed away, surrounded by family, on May 28, 2018 at his home in Liberty, Missouri after a long struggle with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was born December 12, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri, the eldest of eight children of Tom Bark Kretsinger, Sr. and Carolyn Trimble Kretsinger. Tom was also known as "Bark" to friends and family. In 1978, he received a bachelor's degree in political science from William Jewell College. In 1981, Kretsinger earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law, following in the footsteps of five generations of family lawyers. During his law career, he served as Secretary of the Clay County Bar Association, Chairman of the Clay County Republican Central Committee, Member of the Missouri Republican Committee, Chairman of the Liberty Architectural Review Committee, and Chairman of the Missouri Housing Development Commission. He was the Clay County Counselor from 1991 to 1997, and an instructor in William Jewell College's evening division for 24 years. During his career with American Central Transport, Kretsinger was active in the American Trucking Association, having served on its Board of Directors, its Executive Committee, and as Chairman of the ATA Litigation Center. He was elected Chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association, after many years as an officer and a board member, and later received its Past Chairman's Award. He also served as Chairman of the Missouri Trucking Association, where he was awarded the Frank G. Campbell Award for Service to the Industry and made an honorary Board member. Kretsinger was diagnosed with ALS in June 2014. He continued to work as long as he could while dealing with his infirmity, always with an eye toward the future. Active in the ALS Association's Mid-America Chapter, Kretsinger served as Grand Marshall of the Joe McGuff ALS Golf Classic in and The Walk to Defeat ALS. In 2016, he was awarded their Tom Watson Award for Courage. He was also especially proud of a Trucker's Prayer plaque that was given to him by the drivers of ACT. Kretsinger is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jo Hetherington Kretsinger; four children, Mary Kretsinger Wilhoit (Nathan), of Blue Springs, MO; Tom Bark Kretsinger, III (Bailey), of Kansas City, MO; Elizabeth (Bess) Kretsinger Heffernan (Brian) of St. Louis, MO and Benjamin Trimble Kretsinger of Kansas City, MO; his mother, Carolyn Trimble Kretsinger; siblings William Trimble Kretsinger, Sr., Robert Carll Kretsinger, Ruth Kretsinger Dutcher, Martha Kretsinger Ransom, James Warren Kretsinger and Stephen Paul Kretsinger. He leaves six beloved grandchildren, Ian Joshua Wilhoit, Mira Elise Wilhoit, Adam Lewis Wilhoit, Oswin Bark Wilhoit, Harold Eric Wilhoit and Nova Jade Kretsinger. He was predeceased by his father, Tom Bark Kretsinger, Sr., and his brother Joseph Francis Kretsinger. Tom had faith in God and wanted all his loved ones to know that although he hates to part with them, he did not fear death. In his own words he said, "I see death as just another adventure and I will see you again in heaven. I want my family and friends to view my passing with celebration not grief. Don't be sad. I am in good hands." In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, Missouri or the ALS Association's Mid-America Chapter.