Dr. Jerry R. Fankhauser

On May 5, 2025 beloved husband, father, brother, son and friend, Dr. Jerry Fankhauser, at the age of 80, passed away suddenly from complications from abdominal surgery. He was surrounded by family and friends at the time of his passing. Jerry was born June 19, 1944, the son of Florance (Schneider) Fankhauser and Robert Fankhauser in St. Joseph, MO. He graduated from Central High School and Missouri Western College in St. Joseph and continued his education at the University of Nebraska. He was granted early admission to the UMKC School of Dentistry in Kansas City, MO and graduated with his D.D.S. degree in 1969. During that time, he met his future wife and life partner, Leslie Eells and they married in 1967. Upon graduation from UMKC Dental School, Jerry entered the U.S. Public Health Service and was assigned to the Coast Guard in Alameda, CA. Following the end of his service, he opened his dental practice in Springfield in 1969, where he practiced for 45 years. He retired in 2014.
Jerry had many joys in his 80 years, the foremost being the birth of his son, Ben. They had many adventures together including a couple of exhilarating shark dives. Their love of baseball was a lifelong bond established early in Ben's life. Second to his family, Jerry found tremendous enjoyment working with so many of his wonderful patients and his amazing staff. With his leadership, his staff worked as a team, always finding ways to accomplish as much as they could for the patients.
Jerry was a doer. He was an intrepid traveler, an aspirational golfer, a curious scuba diver, a reluctant gardener, and a sporadic student of the guitar. And of course, he was a super fan of the KC Royals, the KC Chiefs, and the MU Tigers. His keen, and sometimes outrageous, sense of humor was a delight. He felt blessed to have such good friends and colleagues, especially so in his relationship with his best friend and fellow diver, Mike Horan. Most of all, Jerry had a deep, but quiet faith in his God. He offered prayer every day for those he knew were in need. Jerry is survived by his wife of 56 years, Leslie Fankhauser, his sister, Gayle Fankhauser (Chicago, IL), his sister Cindy Mann (Boiling Springs, NC). He also leaves his brother-in-law, John Eells (Julie) and his brother-in-law, Jim Eells (Elizabeth), and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held Friday, May 23, 2025 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in the Brentwood Chapel, with visitation from 1:00-2:00 PM with service to follow from 2:00-3:00 PM. Reverend Sue Day will officiate.
Memorial donations would most gratefully be accepted. Donation suggestions include:
Rinehart Foundation
UMKC School of Dentistry
650 E. 25th street
Kansas City, MO 64108
*Write: "Fankhauser Scholarship" on the memo line*
Or
Community Foundation of the Ozarks
425 E. Trafficway St
Springfield, MO 65806
fbo: Ben Fankhauser's Sports Fund
or
any charity of your choice.