Jean Elizabeth Needham

Jean Elizabeth Needham, age 66, passed away in Overland Park, KS on July 12th, 2025. Funny, fiery, caring, and intrepid, she will be deeply missed by her surviving family, though with the hope and faith that she enjoys her next great adventure.

In 1959, Jean was born to William and Elizabeth Needham at the US Army Base in Neubrucke, Germany. She spent her childhood on the move with her family when her father was stationed as near as Kansas and as far as Taiwan. Seeing the world contributed to her lifelong love of travel.

When Jean was a senior in high school she returned to Germany, living for a year in Ottersberg as a foreign exchange student. While staying with a German family, she forged a strong connection with her three "sisters", an international friendship that would last for decades to come.

Upon her return to the States, Jean attended the University of Kansas, majoring in German and Economics. Because that wasn't enough to keep her busy, she also earned her private pilot's license, with her father as her instructor.

Combining her knack for logistics with her interest in flying, Jean began her journey to become an air traffic controller in 1982. Initially she worked at Washington Center, where she regularly handled high-level security flights including Air Force One and military jets, and was Vice President of the local union. Later she moved to Colorado, to be closer to her younger sister, Nancy, and her family, and worked at Denver Center until her retirement in 2009. Somehow, in addition, she found the time to earn her certification as a paralegal.

While she excelled in her career, Jean's real "job" was spoiling her nieces and nephews, in addition to her pets. Her cats Paris, Bismark, Lillie, and Tazzy were true family members, hilarious characters whose shenanigans were often recounted on family calls. Later, her dogs, Summer then Duke, offered her comfort and companionship.

As for her nieces and nephews, Jean loved taking them on trips: to Disney World, to Europe, and on cruises. More importantly, she remained a consistent, loving presence for them throughout the years. Jean could always be counted on to offer up a warm hug, a shoulder to cry on, or a good laugh, whichever might be required at the time.

It's not surprising, then, that her post-retirement work was shaped by her love of children. She became a CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) for kids in the foster system, and returned to school to become a Daycare Director. Jean was also involved in Mountain Life Church in Fort Collins, where she hosted Bible studies and served as their Preschool Director.

In 2019 Jean moved back to Kansas, where she lived a few doors down from her father, and within close driving distance of her oldest brother, David, and his family. These were happy years for her, full of family barbecues, family vacations, and a whole new generation of great-nieces and nephews to spoil.

The good times came to an end too soon, though fortunately Jean's final days were marked by the same good spirits as her life. Jean is survived by her father, William; her siblings David (Vicky), Joe, Katherine, and Nancy (Link); her nieces and nephews Carrie (Mitch), Ben, Sam (Sarah), Susie (Ryan), Rebecca (Linus), Sarah (Maher), Tim, Cassandra, and Thomas; and great-nephews and nieces Lincoln, Winter, Piper, Beatrice, Naji, and Nora. She was preceded in death by her mother, Elizabeth.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 19th at 10:00am at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, 12251 Antioch Rd, Overland Park, KS. There will be a luncheon to follow at the Hampton Court Clubhouse, 12101 Hayes St.