Luna Marie Kugler

Baby Luna Marie Kugler, 6-month-old daughter of Rusty and Megan Kugler, and the sister of Maximilian Kugler, passed away peacefully in her parents’ arms on Monday, April 18th, 2016, at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., after suffering severe brain damage from cardiac arrest prompted by a viral infection on April 4th, 2016. She was born on Oct. 9, 2015. Luna came into this world a quiet observer, curious about everyone around her. She loved watching people. Described as a “summer breeze” by her Grandmother Penny Kugler, Luna was an easy going and good-humored baby. Luna’s favorite person in the world was her older brother, Maximilian, and she loved to laugh at his antics. Luna is preceded in death by her great-grandparents, Mark Edwin Gants III, Violet Marie Littlejohn, Baxter Littlejohn, Helen Hays, Howard Kugler and Isobel Walker and by her Great-aunt Diane Manning. Luna is survived by her parents Rusty and Megan Kugler and brother Maximilian Kugler of Independence, Mo.; great-grandparents Russell and Wilma Pence of Richmond, Mo., and Francis Hays of Norborne, Mo.; grandparents Mark and Rebecca Gants of Blue Springs, Mo., and Mark and Penny Kugler of Richmond, Mo.; aunts, uncles and cousins Doug, Kaitlin and Ethan Cruise of Corpus Christi, Tex., Mark, Anja and Maverick Gants of San Rafael, Ca., Ryan, Tammy, Brennon and Ryker Kugler of Richmond, Mo., Regan Kugler of Columbus, Ind., Mark Schutt of Independence, Mo. and Lacy, Carson and Madelyn Schutt of Independence, Mo.Rusty and Megan would like to thank the medical teams at Pediatric Associates and St. Luke’s East ER in Lee’s Summit, Mo.; City of Lee’s Summit, Mo., paramedics; and the Children’s Mercy Hospital transport team for their care. They also thank Luna’s PICU doctors at Children’s Mercy Hospital: Dr. Paul Bauer, Dr. Tara Benton, Dr. Yong Yun Han, Dr. Jenna Miller, Dr. Jay Rilinger, Dr. John Sommerauer and Dr. Marita Thompson; Luna’s PICU nurses at Children’s Mercy Hospital Kathleen, Ariana, Whitney, Jared, Hannah, Sarah, India, Renee, Katie, Krista, Alyssa, Taylor, Sarah, Leigh and Lauren; and all the Children’s Mercy Hospital doctors, medical students, social workers, chaplains and staff who assisted in Luna’s care. We are so grateful to you all, words cannot express our gratitude and thankfulness enough. Luna was a heart valve donor for two other infants. Her light will shine on through the babies she was able to help, through her family and friends who love her dearly and through everyone who met her or heard about her story. Family services will be private, but an open Celebration of Life will follow in June 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent in Luna’s name to the Children’s Mercy Hospital Department of Philanthropy for the PICU at 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Mo., 64108. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600.