| Bio | Charles Andrew ("Drew") Dimmel
1948 - 2017 Obituary
Charles Andrew ("Drew") Dimmel passed away peacefully on January 21, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Drew's love of family, friends, his church and his community was infinite, his heart was humble and his capacity to give was boundless. He always smiled, shared a kind word and inspired confidence in others. Drew was an extraordinary spirit who will live in our hearts forever. Drew was born June 1, 1948, to Charles and Virginia Dimmel. At age 14, Drew and his brother Doug started a musical group, The Classmen. Drew graduated from Van Horn High School and from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. Drew met the love of his life, Jane Phelps, and they married in 1974. In 1979, Drew began a 30-year career as a local and national voice-over talent. Drew was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2001 and became president of the local Parkinson Foundation, and was a dedicated volunteer as the face of Parkinson's disease in Kansas City. Drew is survived by wife, Jane; son, Michael (Anita); son, Tommy (partner Cindy Diaz); mother, Virginia; brother [1969 Van Horn graduate and 2016 Hall of Honor Inductee] Doug (Liz), sister, Suzanne (Roger Lumley), granddaughter, Isabelle, and a large, loving extended family. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at Grace United Methodist Church, 11485 S. Ridgeview Rd., Olathe, Kan., followed by a Celebration of Life at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, also at the church. In lieu of flowers, Drew's family has requested contributions in his honor to the National Parkinson Foundation - Heartland, Grace United Methodist Church, Olathe, Kan., and the Kansas City Hospice House. Our family is so grateful to their staff, who cared so compassionately for Drew. To leave a message for the family, visit our website at www.Penwellgabelolathe.com Published in Kansas City Star on Jan. 24, 2017
After high school, I graduated from college with a bachelor of music degree from the Conservatory of Music/UMKC. My musical group "The Classmen" continued all through college and for 8 more after school (a total of 18 years in all). During that time my I met and married my wife, Jane, and we raised our two sons Michael and Thomas, in Overland Park, Kansas where we moved to be close to the recording studios, and radio studios that I work for. I was hired by KMBC Television in 1979 and have worked in TV, Radio and Video ever since.
Our son Michael works in San Francisco, while Tommy works in Boston. Janie and I enjoy visiting them often each year and since my family still lives mostly in Independence, we enjoy spending plenty of time there too! |
