Gwen Whitney Obituary

Gwen Marie Whitney

Born: July 12, 1960; in Stickney, IL

Died: March 28, 2016; in Kansas City, KS

Gwen Marie Whitney, age 55, of Sunrise Beach, Missouri, passed away Monday, March 28, 2016, at The University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

She was born on July 12, 1960, in Stickney, Illinois, a daughter of Gerald and Jean (Smuda) Rebout. On July 23, 1983, in Stickney, Illinois, she was united in marriage to her surviving husband, Steve Whitney.

Gwen was employed as the activity director for Windsor Estates in Camdenton for many years. She enjoyed coaching a variety of sports involving children of the lake community. Gwen was an instrumental committee member that brought soccer to Camdenton High School. She served on the Lake Ozark Soccer Board for many years. Gwen was very involved in the PTA at the Hurricane Deck Elementary School, hosting variety shows and coordinating haunted houses at Halloween, just to name a few.

In her spare time, she enjoyed crafting, designing costumes, gardening and playing volleyball and softball.

In addition to her husband, Steve; she is survived by her daughter, Lauren Whitney Neal and husband, Jordan of Overland Park, Kansas; sons, Andrew Whitney of Madrid, Spain and Steven Whitney and Patricia Turgeon of Denver, Colorado; mother, Jean Rebout of Stickney, Illinois; brother, Greg Rebout of Stickney, Illinois; sister, Gail Chillo and husband John of Riverside, Illinois; nieces, Sarah Chillo, Whitney DeBourge; nephews, Michael Chillo, Mark Chillo, Joseph Cope and Nick Benakis; mother-in-law, Patricia Whitney of Laurie, Missouri and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gerald Rebout; brother, Gary Rebout; grandmother, Angeline Smuda; and her father-in-law, George Whitney, Jr.

A celebration of Gwen's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 2nd, at the Ozark Chapel United Methodist Church in Laurie. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, at the church. Entombment will be held at a later date in the columbarium at Garber Memorial Estates in Laurie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Steve Whitney, with funds to be dispersed to charities such as the Dyslexic Institute and the American Diabetes Association. Expressions of sympathy may be left online at www.kidwellgarber.com.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Laurie/Sunrise Beach Chapel.