ERIE — Rodney L. “Rod” Shrum, 65, of Overland Park, and a former Erie resident, passed away Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at his home.
He was born on May 18, 1960, in Parsons to Everett and Lois (Redman) Shrum. He grew up in Erie and attended Erie schools, graduating from Erie High School in 1978. While at Erie High School, Rod was a standout athlete, excelling at basketball and football. He is the Erie High School all-time leading scorer with over 2,000 points and the ninth all-time leading scorer in the State of Kansas. He earned all-state honors three times and led the Red Devils to two third-place state finishes. He continued his basketball career at Missouri Southern State University where he earned all-conference honors. Rod graduated from Missouri Southern with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1982.
Rod moved to Texarkana, Arkansas, and worked as field sales representative for Western Insurance in Fort Scott. He moved to Allen, Texas in 1990 and in 1995 became an independent insurance agent. He was a regional sales manager from 1997-2002 with Greentree/Canseco, overseeing motorcycle financing. In 2003, he started Secure On Site Shredding, a document destruction business. He moved to Erie in 2010 and then to Overland Park in 2013. His son, Tyler, succeeded him in the business following his retirement.
Rod enjoyed golfing and reading, was an avid sports enthusiast, and a Dallas Cowboys fan. He attended Immanuel Baptist Church in Overland Park. He and Kathy Landgraf were married on Feb. 12, 1983, in St. Louis, Missouri. They later divorced.
He is survived by his sons, Ryan Shrum, and his wife, Megan of Seward, Nebraska and Tyler Shrum, and his wife, Regan of Plano, Texas; his mother, Lois Shrum of Overland Park; his grandchildren, Haven Shurm, Kyson Shrum, Raelynn Shrum, and Lewis Shrum; his brother, Brad Shrum of Overland Park; and several nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Everett Shrum, and his sister-in-law, Kitty Shrum.
A private memorial graveside service will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Galesburg later. Memorials are suggested to the Erie Booster Club, and these may be mailed to the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 182, Erie, KS 66733. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com
