Karl Mittenzwey

Cremation Center of Kansas City

Cynthia Friberg

Beers and Story - Belchertown

Karl William "Bill" Mittenzwey, born on May 13, 1944, in St. Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on September 28, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas, after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. Bill dedicated his life to education and was a beloved teacher with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), where he served from 1974 until his retirement in 2010. A passionate educator, he spent the majority of his career in Heidelberg, Germany, shaping the minds of young students. His teaching journey also took him to Mannheim, Germany; Okinawa, Japan; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Jennings, Missouri; and Montgomery City, Missouri. In addition to his dedication to teaching, Bill was an enthusiastic coach. He began his coaching career in Heidelberg in 1974, taking pride in being the first girls' basketball coach there. Over the years, he coached various sports, including volleyball, soccer, and cross country, instilling teamwork and sportsmanship in all his athletes, to whom he was referred to as "Coach Mitt". Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jean Mittenzwey. He leaves behind a loving family who will continue to honor his legacy: his sons, Karl Mittenzwey II and Jonathan Mittenzwey; and his daughters, Cristi Flores and Alexandra Mallette. His family plans to celebrate his life this June in Heidelberg, Germany, a place that held special significance for Bill and where his impact as an educator and coach was most deeply felt.  If you should feel so inclined, Bill would have appreciated donations to pancreatic cancer research in place of any other kind gesture, as his wife Jean and he both succumbed to this disease. https://donate.cancer.org/ is one such avenue. Bill's warmth, generosity, and unwavering commitment to his family, students, and athletes will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

When words can’t fully express what we want to say, sometimes a small gift can. Visit our Memorial Store for personalised gifts, keepsake jewellery and to plant a memorial tree.

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Karl Bill Mittenzwey Obituary | Cremation Center of Kansas City