Christopher Jon Anthony

November 25, 1965 - February 10, 2003 Christopher Jon Anthony, 37, Leawood, KS, passed away Monday, February 10, at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City after a courageous two-year battle with brain cancer. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 12, from 6-8 p.m. at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road in Kansas City. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 13, at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Avenue, Overland Park, KS, followed by a graveside service. Chris was born in Lincoln, NE in 1965, and moved with his family to the Kansas City area at age 7. He was a graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School in 1984, where he excelled in soccer and baseball. Chris earned a B.S. in business administration from Kansas University, where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He later earned his MBA from Baker University. Chris enjoyed a highly successful career in marketing with Sprint; Coca-Cola USA, where he served in regional marketing director positions in Minneapolis, Houston and Dallas; and, most recently at VML, where he was employed as Group Account Director. Chris will be remembered as a compassionate listener, gracious friend and loving husband, father, son and brother. He was also a fierce competitor, who mastered virtually every sport he attempted. He was an avid runner, cyclist, golfer and coach. Chris also loved boating and all water sports, and he was particularly fond of spending free time with his family at his parent's lake home at Lake of the Ozarks. His passions were simple, yet important, and always centered around family-especially his wife Kirsten and children Cole and Caroline. Chris leaves his wife Kirsten, son Cole and daughter Caroline of the home; his parents Marc and Patricia; brother Chip and his wife Cindy; brother Matt and his wife Ann; sister Marcia and husband Pete Ciacco; father-in-law and mother-in-law Larry and Lorna Stroup; and sister-in-law Allison and her husband Jeff Long; and numerous nieces and nephews. As Chris fought for his own life, he also fought on behalf of all those stricken with Glioblastoma brain cancer. And he was also active in local charities, especially the American Cancer Society and Turning Point, a Kansas City organization that helps counsel families of cancer victims. As such, his family will carry forward his wishes to support Turning Point, and brain cancer research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center through the Chris Anthony Memorial Fund for Brain Cancer Research. Chris was an inspiration to everyone who knew him, changing in some positive way every life he touched. Because of his undying fight for those facing similar circumstances, the family asks in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Turning Point, PO Box 10486, Kansas City, MO 64171 or the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 297153, Houston, TX 77297-0153. All donations of the latter will be placed in the Chris Anthony Memorial Brain Cancer Research Fund. (Arrangements: McGilley State Line Chapel (816) 942-6180)