Pamela E. Loveland

Pamela was a beautiful soul whose life touched everyone she came in contact with: gracious, kind, caring and always serving others - her family, friends and “foreigners” she encountered wherever we lived. Pamela Ellen Loveland, age 67 of Independence, MO; died on August 13, 2025 at home (and finally at CenterPoint Medical Center) following several cardiac arrests.

Pamela was born in the KC area on October 15, 1957 to Dick & Lou Ellen Greiner. She was a daddy’s girl and made sure our young sons got time with her dad whenever we returned home on (missionary) furlough and after we moved back to KC from Taiwan (early 2014) to care for her aging parents (until they passed several years later).

Words those who know her have used and which aptly describe her: joyfully serving, gracious, always thoughtful, preferring others to be centered, adaptable and always in charge of fun for her family. Her family has been touched to receive so many thoughtful texts from our church families in Taiwan and

locally who all attest to the kind of person Pamela was.

She graduated from Pensacola Christian College as an RN (BS Nursing, 1982) and worked at St. Luke’s hospital, Research Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medical offices, and Discover Vision Eye Surgery Center until receiving news in early 1999 that she & (husband) David were chosen as parents of newborn twins Simeon & Seth in January 1999. For most of the rest of her son’s growing up years she gladly assumed the role of mother & housewife making raising & training them first priority. Pamela would become (and was) an awesome mother.

She was also an incredible wife - the perfect match for her husband, marrying David in 1984. Pamela was much-loved by all her family who realized this girl was special. Early indications were she had a tender heart to the gospel responding at five (though her parents didn't raise her to follow Christ); nonetheless, she found a way to get to church as a young teenager and was baptized around age 13. Thereafter, Pamela distinguished herself as one that took knowing God and following Christ seriously (graduating from Christian colleges and active at Kansas City Baptist Temple (KCBT) where she met and eventually married David).

Shortly after their early years together, they jumped into KCBT’s Int’l Student Ministry (ISM), reaching out & serving new int’l students at UMKC. Eventually, they would lead this ministry and bought a home just south of campus to host newly arriving students who made her home their hangout on Friday & Saturday evenings with 10-35 students attending at times. She was the hostess with the mostest and served in this manner for years before moving to Taiwan (in 1994-96) after numerous invitations to live in Asia, learn Chinese and experience life abroad like the students she & David served. Once there Pam jumped in, took language classes, treasured the help and friendship of a Taiwanese friend (Lydia) and learned about the Taiwanese people and culture.

From the beginning of her marriage, Pamela sacrificed and worked so David could finish his education (working low-paying ESL jobs which opened access and opportunities with int’l students), and serve as a missionary in response to the Lord’s call. She would do this repeatedly over their 40 years, willingly freeing David up to give more time to Christian ministry and outreach.

Returning to KC in 1996 (age 39) Pam began the process of adoption and resumed RN work. She again opened her front door to UMKC’s int’l students through Cornerstone Community Church’s (CCC)

outreach. Busy years of full-time work, then adopting twins (after 15 years of marriage), helping co-lead CCC’s Int’l Student Ministry and serving - until the church sent David & her family back to Taiwan in 2004 where the twins grew up.

Though she served as the pastor’s wife, educating her sons was important, so she had them in Chinese schools during the day, and would homeschool in English at night during their 10 years there. Due to her steadfast love, nurturing and care, she raised two sons others have often affirmed she’d raised right and were truly special; only special mothers can do that. To lighten her load, she was gifted with a mini-Schnauzer, Chloe - her inseparable companion whom she (like everyone else in her family) spoiled.

After returning to KC to care for her parents (2014), Pamela again served as pastor’s wife at Grace Heartland Community Church where she learned ASL and served the deaf and a loving congregation while her sons finished high school. Wherever God placed her she gave, loved, served and genuinely cared for others with Jesus’ love.

When David resigned as pastor of Grace Heartland Community Church (late 2018) Pam once again returned to full-time work (just after the twins graduated from high school). During the last 6 years she faced a number of health-related issues, diligently researched and arranged for tests, wrestled with Celiac and a severely limited diet, became thinner (losing 20 lbs.), but continued to give as her family’s caregiver and even organized, coordinated and hosted amazing theme parties for int’l students, her sons and neighbors.

To keep her sanity among all of life’s challenges - shopping at Hillcrest Thrift Store (in Lee’s Summit) was her preferred therapy where this frugal shopper kept her family dressed and equipped with a great variety of items that always enhanced and enriched their lives in countless, thoughtful ways.

During her final month we learned she had stage 4 carcinoma in the small intestines requiring urgent immuno-chemo treatments (which she began on 11 August) and a liquid diet. Yet despite anemia, such dismal prospects and little energy, she pushed herself daily to complete house projects and to help our son, Simeon, and his fiancé (Antoinette) with their upcoming wedding and reception arrangements. She seemed to know her days were numbered, yet wanted to do all she could before chemo treatments began.

Pamela was an amazing woman and a treasured wife who well-cared for her not-easy-to-live with husband over four decades. His testimony? She was faithful, lovely, elegant, classy, beautiful, caring and dearly loved and (until the Lord’s return) will be ever and truly missed by her family and all who knew her.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift Pamela was to us all.

Pamela was preceded in death by her parents (Dick & Lou Ellen Greiner) and is survived by her heart-broken husband (David) and sons (Simeon & Seth), daughter-in-laws Ashley & Antoinette Loveland, brother (Russell) and sister in-law Janis (& brother in-law Gary Kilgore), and nephew Sam (Mikayla) Wright.

There will be no public visitation in lieu of a Celebration of Life service at Bethel Baptist Church (downstairs fellowship hall) on Saturday, August 23 at 3:30 pm (2406 Route 291 highway, Independence, MO 64057). Instead of flowers, Pam would appreciate donations to Hillcrest Transitional Housing (https://hillcrestkc.org/donate/) where you’ll find a number of ways donors can give to this charitable ministry to local folks in need. Thank you.