David Alan Rule Sr.

David Alan Rule, Sr., age 65, of Lenexa, KS passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, April 26, 2026. David was born on May 28, 1960, in Springfield, Missouri to Ray and Patti James Rule. The family moved to the Kansas City area in 1965 where he lived for the remainder of his life. He attended St. Pius X grade school in Mission, KS and graduated from Shawnee Mission North High School. He spent the last four years at Homestead of Lenexa Assisted Living, where he made a home and gained additional "family" with many of the staff who cared for him lovingly.

David had a smile that lit up a room and a sense of humor that brought laughter and joy wherever he went. This humor and laughter are what got him through two brain tumors, 20 years apart, at age 18 and again at age 38. His attitude was never one of, 'why me', but instead was always, 'I can do this.' A positive attitude gets you further than anything else, he would always say. The hours he spent at doctors' offices and treatment rooms were always full of laughter for all of those around him, where he was referred to as the ‘class clown.’ If he could make someone laugh, no matter what they were going through, then he felt like he had done his job.

David used his cancer diagnosis to help others whenever and however he could. Over the years, he was able to share his journey and offer hope, along with laughter, to other cancer patients through volunteering on the oncology floor at St. Luke’s Hospital, helping start the first brain tumor support group, leading a Relay for Life team, ‘the Brainiacs’, every year, speaking at the annual Cancer Survivors Day Rally and driving cancer patients to various appointments when they could not drive themselves. When he himself could no longer drive, he answered a Cancer Hotline, talking to those newly diagnosed with brain cancer. His advice to others, “Remember, every day you live you are one day closer to a new treatment or cure.”

David’s greatest joy in life are his beloved children and grandchildren. They were his heart and helped him keep going when times were rough. He is survived by his sons, David Rule, Jr (Stefana) and Seth Rule, and daughter Megan Klosterman (Warren). He was the proud grandpa of Christian (Cristel), Collin (fiancée Morgan), and Callie Rule; and Holley, Johanna, and Wilson Klosterman; as well as recent great grandpa to Oliver Rule. He is also survived by his mom and biggest supporter, Patti Rule; sisters Debbie, Dana, and Mary Beth; niece Sara Murphy; nephews Nathan Howard, Dylan Rule, and Zach, Caleb, and Noah Latas; as well as many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, Ray Rule, infant sister, Emily, nephew Drew, and grandparents Carl and Shirley Rule and Nile and Nancy James. David didn’t know a stranger and made friends wherever he went. He had many people in his life who were very special to him.

David’s legacy is his amazing spirit that lives on in all of us. His giant smile and contagious laugh will be remembered always, along with his heart of gold. David, you fought a good fight always, but you can rest now, your days of fighting are over, you have found the peace you deserve.

Services will be held Thursday, April 30, 2026, at St. Pius X Church, 5500 Woodson, Mission, KS. The visitation will be held at 9:30 am followed by the funeral mass at 10:30 am.

We ask that donations be made to one of two organizations: Beheadstrong.org, (you may click the link) a local non-profit that provides assistance to brain tumor patients in Kansas City or his church, St. Pius X, (you may click the link) Mission, KS.