David Verbenec

Our dear son, brother and father, David Michael Verbenec, passed away peacefully at his home in Las Vegas, NV on July 28, 2023.

David was born on June 30, 1952 in Kansas City, KS to Karl and Marcelline Verbenec; he was the oldest of eight children.  He attended St. Patrick’s Elementary School and Washington High School, and went on to earn an Associate’s Degree from Kansas City, KS Community College; he later continued his education with additional classes at Kansas University.

As a young man, David was quite athletic, participating in football, baseball and track and field, where he set long-standing CYO and school records for the 100-yd dash and shot put.  He loved horses, and was active in saddle clubs, helping to organize such events as overnight trail rides and showdeos.  He also loved music, especially The Grateful Dead, and enjoyed playing the guitar, hiking and travelling through the Southwest.

Beginning in 1972, he spent three years in the U.S. Army, where he was an illustrator.  Following that, he moved to Las Vegas and through the years, he worked as a dealer at several casinos, first at Lady Luck, and later, for long stretches at Binion’s Horseshoe, where he was a floorman, and also at Arizona Charlie's.

In 1976, he met Waw Bunchongparu, and they married in 1980.  Although they later divorced, they had two children, Nicholas and Angie, whom he loved dearly.

From his earliest years, David was a voracious reader, and was especially interested in Native American history; in fact, when travelling with him, one brother commented that it was like having his own personal tour guide, as David provided a wealth of information about the various sites they visited.

As an adult, David lived a relatively quiet and simple life.  He worked hard and was reliable and consistent; he was his own man, and always, always stood firmly on his own two feet.  He never expected a handout, certainly never asked for one, and never complained about any hardships or inequities of life he may have experienced.  More than anything, he strived for a peaceful and self-sufficient life.

David was preceded in death by his father, Karl.  He is survived by his son, Nicholas (Alexandria) and his daughter, Angie McGuire (James), grandchildren Lydia, Harvey, James and Thomas, as well as his mother, seven siblings, Barbara (Tim Cooper), Ronald, Brian, Michael, Karl (Liz), Gregory and Brent, and several nieces and nephews.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 16 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th Street, Kansas City, KS, with visitation at 9:00am and the Funeral Mass at 10:00am.  Following burial at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, a luncheon will be served at Holy Family Parish Hall, 513 Ohio, Kansas City, KS 66101.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Patrick’s School CYO Athletic Fund, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, KS 66112.