Les Unrein

Leslie J. Unrein, of Blue Springs, MO, died October 5, 2024.

He was born December 2, 1941, in Liebenthal, Kansas to John and Monica (Schaffer). He was raised in La Crosse, Kansas. He attended St. Michael’s Elementary and graduated from La Crosse High School. He attended the Lady of the Ozarks Seminary, Carthage, MO, the George Meaney Center for Labor Studies, Silver Springs, MD, and received a diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Electronics.

He had a 42-year career in the railroad industry, retiring from the Union Pacific Railroad after various mergers. He started his career with the Rock Island Railroad as an agent-operator and then concluded it as a wire chief in the communications department.

He was a District Chairman for the Transportation Communications Union serving three elected terms in office. He was also elected as a delegate at large in the U.S. to two national conventions.

He also served as a health clinic director for the Eastern Jackson County Free Health Clinic in Independence, MO for 9 years.

He married Pat Wesack (deceased) in Adair, IA on November 23, 1963. He married Betty Marie Etter (deceased) in Independence, MO on January 7, 1970. 

He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO.

Survivors include his sons: Mike and wife Jackie, four grandsons; Andrew, of Rochester, MN, Blake, Brett, and Ethan of Delano, MN; and John and wife Corrine; two granddaughters, Sara and Katherine Unrein of Grain Valley, MO. Also surviving is his partner of the home for 15 years, Theresa Trent.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Carol Schaben and Paula Schuckman. 

The family will receive friends at Park Lawn Funeral Home in Kansas City from 1-2 p.m. on Friday, October 11 with service to follow afterwards. His ashes will be interred at Green Lawn Cemetery, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, MO 64138.