Kursten Arthur McDonald

Kursten Arthur McDonald, 43, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026, surrounded by the people who loved him.

Born on September 11, 1982, in Kansas City, Missouri, Kurt spent most of his life in Kansas City, MO, and Overland Park, KS. He was the kind of person who made this world softer just by being in it. To know Kurt was to love him. There was truly no other option.

Kurt was a friend to everyone he met. He had the sweetest heart, the kindest soul, and a goofy way with words that could catch you off guard and make you laugh when you needed it most. He loved sports, especially the Kansas City Chiefs, and he never missed an opportunity to cheer them on. He loved playing sand volleyball at Volleyball Beach in Martin City, where he built lasting friendships and memories that will never fade.

For 25 years, Kurt worked at Fritz's Smoked Meats. Anyone who walked through the doors knew exactly who he was. He wasn't just someone behind the counter, he was part of what made that place feel like home. He loved smoked meats, but more than that, he loved bringing people together. He found joy in feeding people, serving them, and making them feel welcome. That was Kurt. He made people feel seen. He made them feel important.

Above everything, Kurt loved his family and friends deeply. He showed up. He cared. He loved without conditions. He gave pieces of his heart freely and without hesitation.

He is survived by his father, Eric Evans; his aunts, Karin Miller, Carol Ross, and Carla Darnell; his uncle, Lester Darnell; and several cousins and grand-cousins who will forever carry his memory with them.

Kurt's kindness, laughter, and gentle spirit will live on in every Chiefs game watched, every volleyball game played in the sand, and every meal shared in his honor.

A private celebration of life will be held for his family and close friends.

And on a personal note, from the cousin who wrote this obituary, Kurt was more than a cousin. He was my heart. He was safety. He was laughter when life felt heavy. The world feels different without him in it, and I will spend the rest of my life honoring the love he gave so freely. If you knew him, you were lucky. And if you loved him, you were changed forever.