Philip Wells Gronemeyer

Philip Wells Gronemeyer was born on April 28th, 1957 at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City to Gloria and Herb Gronemeyer. Phil and his brother, Steve, lived in Kansas City, MO until Phil was 6 years old. The family then moved to Leawood KS.

Phil attended Saint John’s Military School in Salina, Kansas until he graduated in 1976. He continued his education at Baker University, earning a Bachelors of Science degree in 1981. He later met the love of his life, Donna “Gayle” Abel, and the couple married on July 5th, 1991. Though Phil never had children of his own, he was a loving step-father to Gayle’s three children.

Throughout their marriage, Phil and Gayle lived in Olathe, KS, Colorado Springs, CO and Amarillo, TX. The couple had been married 25 years when Gayle passed away from cancer at just 65 years old. After the loss of his wife, Phil moved back to Olathe, KS and eventually to Belton, MO to be closer to family.

Phil regularly attended church and prayer groups and made friends everywhere he went. His hobbies included photography, gardening, bike riding and creating beautiful handmade crafts that he sold under his business name “The Gronemeyer Gallery”.

He was loved by many for his gregarious and witty personality, as well as his kind and gentle soul.

He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, two nieces, three great nephews, one great niece and Gayle’s three children, nine grand-children and three great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life for Philip will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society, Raytown, MO.  The visitation will begin at 2pm with a memorial service starting around 3pm.