Ronda Lee Krum

Ronda Lee Krum, 66, of Kansas City, Missouri passed away peacefully on the morning of December 9th, 2022. She was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on February 29th, 1956 to Manon Headley and Ronald Waltermire. When her mother remarried, Ronda was adopted by her stepfather, Richard Beard, at the age of 4. Her beloved grandmother, Thelma Headley, played a significant role in raising her as well. Manon and Richard were active in the local theatre and shared an interest in art and music. This sparked a love of fine art, poetry, and music in Ronda that would shape and enrich her life until the end. As a teenager, she attended a specialty high school for the arts and spent her free time designing and decorating sets at the theatre. She also contributed writings and illustrations to an underground newspaper she created with a group of friends. After high school, she attended Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis, IN. She developed her skills in painting and photography, but started to focus more exclusively on drawing and watercolor illustrations. She was recruited by Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, MO in 1978 where she began a 10-year career designing and illustrating greeting cards for all occasions, children's books, calendars, and more. She made friends with so many wonderful and fascinating people she met through the art scene, which eventually led her to Jeff Krum whom she married in 1983. They welcomed their first daughter, Lauren, in November of 1984. A second daughter, Melinda, came along in 1988. Ronda made the transition to a freelance career at this time so she could be home with her children. As a mother, she was unconditionally loving, highly involved, encouraging, and curious about who her children were. As a wife and homemaker, she was impeccable. She was known for beautiful dinner parties, perfect Christmases, and a household that functioned flawlessly. Some of the highlights from this era of her life are multiple family road trips as well as exotic travel, acting as "room mother" and booster club member at both of her children's schools, regularly gathering family and friends for fun and good times, and striking a balance between career and home life. Although her marriage to Jeff ended in 2001, their relationship remained amicable. Ronda found love again for a few years, but ultimately decided she preferred to be independent. She had a rich inner life, myriad hobbies, and so many friends. As her career in art came to an end, she transitioned into childcare. She gave the gift of her love, curiosity, and joy in all the small things to every child she spent time with. Her friends became her life partners in a way, as she gleaned such deep satisfaction and fulfillment from the strong bonds and deep conversations they shared. In her later years, she considered herself retired, but she never stopped doing the things she loved. She worked hard in her yard and garden, tried new restaurants and cafes with friends, played with her grandson, attended every one of her daughter Lauren's performances that she could make it to, read newspapers and magazines, and completed New York Times crossword puzzles every day. Her friends have all described her as one-of-a-kind, and her daughters felt more loved and seen by her than anyone else in the world. She is gone far too soon, but the time she did have on earth will be remembered and treasured by so many for generations. She is survived by her two daughters, Lauren Krum and Melinda Pine, her son-in-law, Michael Pine, her grandson, Martin, her sister and brother-in-law, Abby and Gregory Filter, her sister Lydia Gilpatrick, her sister-in-law Judy Krum, and her nieces and nephews, Jordan Howard, Lydia Gilpatrick, and Matthew Gilpatrick. She will be deeply missed, but never, ever forgotten. A memorial service will be held for Ronda on January 8th, 2023 at 1717 W 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64101 from 1-4pm.

Ronda Lee Krum

February 29, 1956 - December 9, 2022