David Roy Claar

David Roy Claar, age 69, passed away on October 31 after a long illness. David is survived by his two children, Benjamin David Claar and Jessica Margaret Gamarra, his son-in-law Alvaro Junior Gamarra-Fill, his two grandsons Raphael Emilio Gamarra and Henry Leo Gamarra, his four siblings, Daniel Lee Claar (Rose), Patrick Stephen Claar (Rita), Kathleen Claar Chael (Rick), and Karen Christine Claar Halastik (Mark), sister-in-law Julie Claar, and over 14 nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews. David was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Lee Claar and Norma Jean Gieringer (Michael), and his brother Jeffrey Guy Claar. David grew up in the Ward Parkway area of Kansas City and attended Rockhurst High School where he played soccer and was on the football team. After attending Penn Valley Community College, David graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City with a degree in education. In addition to his work in warehouse management and commercial construction, David spent over ten years as a transportation security officer at the Kansas City International Airport where he also helped train new screeners. A lifelong outdoors man, David was an avid motorcyclist, loved hunting/camping, and cheering on the Chiefs! He was also an accomplished builder and painter and often put his skills to use in home renovation projects and designing and constructing theatre scenery. However, his first love was performing. Kansas City audiences have enjoyed David’s acting, dancing, and singing talents for over 30 years in numerous plays and musicals with such organizations as Theatre Under the Stars, the Bell Road Barn Playhouse, and the Olathe Civic Theater. His most memorable roles include Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, Judd Fry in Oklahoma!, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance. David was also well known for his spot-on John Wayne impersonation and his yearly phone call as Santa Claus to every child in his extended family. David was a gregarious and generous man with an infectious sense of humor and a heart as big as the outdoors. He gave freely of his time and talents and always saw the good in people. As so many have often remarked, David Claar never met a stranger. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, November 21, at Holmeswood Baptist Church, 9700 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, Missouri 64131, followed by a light luncheon. The service will also be livestreamed (www.youtube.com/@holmeswoodbaptist9740 and on Holmeswood Baptist Church’s Facebook page). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bell Road Barn Players (www.bellroadbarn.org) or the Olathe Civic Theatre Association (www.olathetheatre.org).

David Roy Claar

December 11, 1954 - October 31, 2024