Carl Gurera

1942 - 2021

Carl Gurera passed at his Bonner Springs, KS home on June 20th, 2021.

Carl was born May 26th, 1942, in Kansas City MO to the late Joseph and Nancy (Marchese) Gurera. He was the oldest of two brothers Nino Gurera and John Gurera, and one sister Becky Malicoat.

Carl married Susan Gehrt in 1963. Their marriage was blessed with eleven children: Joe and Pam Gurera, Nancy and Frank Perusich, Paul and Karen Gurera, Mark and Kristina Gurera, William and Kelly Gurera, Veronica Martin, Angela and Val Weaver, Mary Gurera, Sarah and Homer Shay. Carl was preceded in death by daughters Anne and Elizabeth Gurera. He has 20 grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

In 1965, Carl began his truck driving career with Consolidated Freightways and remained there until retiring in 1996. He exceled in his career and competed in several national Rodeo Truck competitions and was a three-consecutive-year Rodeo Champion driver.

Carl married Mary Ann Hand in 1997 and has four stepchildren Tim Hand, Mylee Kraft, Kelly Hand, and Katy Herrington. In their 24 years together, one of the highlights of their marriage was a trip to Ireland where Carl played John Wayne from ‘The Quiet Man’ and Mary Ann was his ‘Mary Kate’.

Carl was an avid sports fan. He grew up playing baseball all the way through high school and was even scouted by the Milwaukee Braves. He went on to coach all his boys in their various sports. Carl was a walking encyclopedia when it came to sports. He knew every team, coach, and player and could quote every statistic about each. His passion was Nebraska football. From the Bob Devaney days through today, Carl always followed the team.

Carl was a devoted Catholic and prayed daily. In 1970, he attended the Cursillo movement that changed his life and strengthened his Catholic faith. He was an active member of St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kansas City KS. There he volunteered and was an active member in several organizations: Knights of Columbus (4th Degree and Honor Guard), Chaplin of the St. Patrick “Green Club”, Serra Club, Eucharistic minister, fish fry volunteer, and was known to cook up an authentic Italian meal for any event. Carl loved old westerns and especially John Wayne. He had a spot-on imitation of the “Duke”. A call to his phone was usually answered with a “Well, Hello Pilgrim”.

Well done my good and faithful servant, come share your master’s joy. The best is yet to come.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 25th, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, KS 66112. Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow Mass. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Raytown, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Kansas City, KS.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com