Beloved husband, brother, father, stepfather, and grandfather Al O’Laughlin passed away October 31, 2021, in Kansas City. He was born in 1931 to Charles and Margaret (GrabmillerO’Laughlin, in Kansas City, Kansas, the third child of seven.

He was a joyous man of great faith, humor, learning, and compassion. Growing up, Al enjoyed the pleasures of country living as he watched his brothers and sisters do the hard work of the family farm. In 1957, he was ordained as a Catholic priest. In 1965, he answered Dr. King’s call to all clergy to come to the South to march for racial justice, where he went toe-to-toe with lawless Alabama state troopers. In 1969, he left the priesthood to marry Robbie Raney. After leaving the priesthood, Al devoted his life to helping others work through their problems by becoming a therapist. Al and Robbie had two boys, Joel and Matt O’Laughlin. Every Christmas morning, he could be heard downstairs shouting, “Hey you in the red suit!” as he wrestled with the intruder bringing gifts to Joel and Matt. In 1981, Robbie died. In 1987, Al remarried Diana Prouty. They remained married until the day he died. He loved all of his family and seemingly every stranger he met (which was usually at Burger King or Culvers).
He was preceded in death by his first wife Robbie Raney, brother Russell, and sister Lorene Mixon. Al is survived by wife Diana Prouty, sons Joel and Matt O’Laughlin (Amy), stepdaughters Jennifer Blanck (Paul), Laura Stowe (David) and Susan Stocking (Garth); nine grandchildren (Anna, Kathleen, David, Michael, Stephanie, Lillian, Beth, Kathleen and Dylan); and siblings Jim O’Laughlin (Carolyn), Ruth Fladung, Kathleen Presko, and Dorothy Franzen (John).

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 4 at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church (75th and Main in South Kansas City). Visitation starts at 9 a.m., mass at 10:30.

Assistance by Funeral Advocates, LLC.

4
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x