Martha Rose Gann

1941 - 2025

Martha Rose (Kovac) Gann

July 30, 1941 - December 2, 2025

Shawnee, Kansas - Martha Rose (Kovac) Gann, our much-loved Mom and Grammie, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. Martha, known to many as Marty or Mart, was the life of the party, never met a stranger, polka and cola dancing queen, and was beyond cherished by her huge crew of family and friends.

Born July 30,1941, to Frank and Helen Kovac in Kansas City, KS. Martha attended Christ the King Grade School and graduated from Bishop Ward High School in 1959 where she was a cheerleader who always brought spirit and support to those around her. After graduating, she enjoyed traveling and working for TWA; meeting many of her lifelong friends. She met the love of her life, Keith, and was married on May 4, 1968. Together they built a beautiful family filled with fun, laughter, and lots of love. They lived in Kansas City, KS at good ole 3959 their entire lives and were longtime parishioners at Christ the King Catholic Church.

Martha devoted her early years to raising her children and making a home filled with love. When they were old enough, she stepped back into work, continuing to give her heart to everything she did. She spent several years as an administrative assistant at Cochran Head & Co. She later found her true vocational calling at Savior Pastoral Center, where she was promoted to office administrator. She loved the people and the work so much that she remained there for nearly 20 years, retiring in 2021 at the young age of 80.

Keith and Martha had many longtime couple friends that they would spend bunco nights, dinners, many parties, and lots of fun together. She enjoyed traveling in her later years to Florida, a sneak away trip to Vegas with her friend Phyllis, and treasured a memorable road trip to Yellowstone National Park with her husband, brother-in-law Kenley, and sister-in-law Jeannie. In May of 2022, Martha took a trip of a lifetime, returning to her roots in Croatia, where she reconnected with the spirit of her many relatives, and created memories she cherished deeply.

To her grandchildren, she was Grammie, and they were her whole heart and sunshine. She never missed any event, from music performances of all kinds to any sport that was played. She was there in the stands so proud of all 7 of them. She never missed an all school Mass or a school event at St. Joseph Grade School, making sure they saw her there with a little wave and her sweet smile. Whether it was a shopping spree, an impromptu dinner, or just a day at Dave & Busters, Grammie always found a way to make them feel loved.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Helen Kovac; loving husband Lester "Keith" Gann; and sister Patty A. (Kovac) Burke. She is lovingly survived by her brother Peter (Sharon) Kovac; her children Kristina (Chris) Albright, Kevin (Jill) Gann, and Megan (Brent) Thieman; her seven grandchildren; Jack, Sam, Lilly, Max, Emme, Henry and Scarlett and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Like one of her favorite sayings, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain," she lived that way here on Earth. Martha Rose was loved by so many, everywhere she went she brought the party with her. We imagine heaven rejoicing, its gates filled with music and light as she dances her way home.

Her family will honor her memory with a funeral mass at the St. Joseph Catholic Church on December 12, 2025. The rosary will begin at 9:30am. The visitation will follow at 10am, followed by the funeral mass at 12pm. The funeral procession will go to Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery followed by a reception at the St. Joseph Catholic Church McDevitt Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic School or St. James Academy.