Brad Rackers, age 43, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., passed away Saturday, May 17, 2025, from complications due to diabetes. He was born on March 22, 1982, in Jefferson City, Mo., to Jerry “Chuck” and Carol (Lansford) Rackers.
Brad was a 2000 graduate of Helias High School (https://www.heliascatholic.com/) and continued his education at Southwest Missouri State University (https://www.missouristate.edu/), graduating in 2004 with a BSE Speech and Theatre Education. He later received his master’s degree in education from Baker University (https://www.bakeru.edu/).
Brad was part of Kansas City Cappies (https://www.cappies.com/kcc/), Missouri Thespians (https://missourithespians.org/), the Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri (https://speechandtheatremo.org/)and was a founding member of Summit Theatre Group (https://www.summittheatre.org/) Studio. He received the Teacher of the Year Award for the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District and was a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee LSW.
Brad’s love of theatre started at a young age. He attended drama camps during grade school and got the bug. He performed in productions at Immaculate Conception School, Helias High School, Southwest Missouri State University, Capital Players and was a member of ACTPAC. In high school he began to feel his passion and strength was in directing and organizing productions. He directed his first show while still in school and so began his directing career.
While Brad still enjoyed being on stage with his Summit Theatre Group family, his life revolved around his students. He began his 22-year teaching career at Grandview High School, starting with a small theatre department that did one show a year and leaving behind a thriving program doing multiple shows and a children’s program annually.
Upon his exit from Grandview High School, Brad joined his current family at Lee’s Summit West High School and found his home. He often said he was one of the lucky people that enjoyed going to work every day. His goal was to provide students a safe environment to learn and participate, while also having fun. His students learned every step of theatre from choosing a show through cleaning up when the run was complete. One of his proudest moments was giving students the opportunity to “fly” which he did in multiple shows.
While Brad’s greatest love was his family and friends, he also had a passion for travel. He had the opportunity to take his students to New York City and London, England to study theatre multiple times. He visited NYC so many times we considered him a “New Yorker,” though he wasn’t born there. Traveling with Brad did not include rest and relaxation; it was about how much you could do while you were there and resting when you got home. He was always ready to go anywhere, and he did just that.
Brad was loved by all whose lives he touched and inspired and will be missed by his family, friends and the Missouri Theatre community.
Brad is survived by his parents, Jerry “Chuck” and Carol Rackers of Jefferson City, Mo.; brother, Brent Rackers; nieces and nephews, Hannah, Jacob, Evey, and Sawyer Rackers; his grandmother, Hilda Rackers; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins, and friends.
Brad is preceded in death by his grandparents, William Howard and Dorothy Lansford; grandfather, Norman Rackers; uncle, William Howard Lansford, Jr.; aunt, JoDee Lansford; uncle and aunt, Larry and Linda Rackers; and cousin, Katy Lawson.
A celebration of Brad’s life will take place on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Lee’s Summit Christian Church (https://lschristian.com/), 800 NE Tudor Road, Lee’s Summit MO 64086. The service will be live streamed on Lee’s Summit Christian Church’s YouTube channel – @LeesSummitChristianChurch.
An additional visitation will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Freeman Mortuary. A Prayer Service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. in the Freeman Chapel with Deacon Ed Stroesser officiating.
The family kindly requests no flowers, plants, or memorial stones. Instead, to honor Brad’s dedication to his students, the family requests donations be made to the Summit Theatre Group (https://www.summittheatre.org/) in Brad’s name. All donations will go towards a special scholarship fund established for theatre students’ college scholarships. Please make checks payable to Summit Theatre Group and mail to 180 NW Oldham Parkway, Lee’s Summit MO 64081. Please mark your donation in the check memo as “Brad Rackers Memorial Scholarship.” Electronic donations can be made at https://summittheatregroup.ludus.com/donate.php.
Brad was an amazing man! My youngest daughter spent 4 years at LSWHS in theater with Brad. She learned so very much and has been so extremely successful since graduating in 2017. This photo is from her last awards ceremony just a week before graduation. She had won the award for Best Actress that school year. He wrote a special note for her that was include in her surprise theater scrapbook at her grad party. Her first comment was that “you got something from Rackers, that’s the best.” Later after she read the note, she said “he does like me.” Brad made sure all of his students worked hard and learned the things he wanted them to know. He will be greatly missed.
Brad Rackers was arguably the most passionate, hardworking man I had ever met. He did so much for theatre all over Lee’s Summit, and I struggle to imagine what our theatre programs and their people will do without him. He was an irreplaceable director, teacher, and friend. Not only was he extremely efficient and good at his job, but he made sure that his students knew when he was proud of them. I did my second ever show with STG, and the atmosphere he created immediately felt like home to me. That show sparked my love for theatre, and many lifelong friendships within that community. I am so blessed to say that I knew him, and to have been part of his amazing productions. I can’t imagine that anyone could forget the incredible impact this man has made and as those who love him carry on his legacy.
Mr Rackers…. whew. He was my teacher from 2006-2010 at Grandview High School and even outside of class, I was his student in the theatre, on stage….I can’t even put it into words the magic he blessed us with. He showed me what community looks like, what unconditional love and support looks like and should be….I am still in disbelief of his untimely passing, as my mind replays 1000s of memories. He saw me and allowed me to be seen! He never tried to clip my wings, just helped me learn to use them to fly. The many of times I was put outside the class for being a mess 😂, he still allowed me grace. Chyle, Mr Rackers took me to HS graduation!!!! That should tell you how important he was in my life! He allows the theatre to be my haven, my safe space, my family. So I say, Thank you Rackers, for giving me that during the precipice of my life. He was a teacher, a mentor, a friend… and I am honored to have known his soul. Thank you Brad Rackers 🖤