We always love to hear stories about caring and community-minded families who are deeply committed to giving back. This is one of those stories. 

Kimberly Wilkerson and her children Emmaline Schoenthaler and Boden Schoenthaler regularly volunteer their time and efforts and are always eager to make a difference. Their dedication to giving and serving others reflects their strong values and generous spirit. 

Kim and her children live in the Sagamore Hills area with their Lhasa Poo Sophie. They are in good company with many others in their family who have lived in Mission Hills. Over the years, Kim’s parents, paternal grandparents, great aunts and uncles, aunts and uncles, and cousins have all lived here. Today, her brother, his family, Kim, and her kids remain in Mission Hills. Her brother lives just a few minutes away.

This is another story about a Mission Hills resident who grew up here and then returned to their roots. When she was in third grade, her family moved from Prairie Village to Mission Hills, where both her parents lived just off Mission Road. After high school, she moved to Colorado and lived there for 17 years. 

When she returned to the area, she settled in Fairway before eventually finding her way back to the familiar comforts of Mission Hills.

Her move to Mission Hills was in 2017. She purchased a home built in the 1950s that needed extensive renovations to modernize and bring it up to date. She invested in two major remodels – one in 2018 and another in 2023 to make it feel like their own.

Kim works at Haas & Wilkerson Insurance and was a former educator. After graduating from Shawnee Mission East High School, she continued her education at Colorado State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Then, she pursued another bachelor’s degree at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and later completed a Master’s degree at the University of Colorado, Denver. 

Kim’s work and family life keep her quite busy. However, she is incredibly generous with her time and is always willing to help others. She spends a lot of time volunteering and leading community service projects and is involved in various charitable groups to help make a positive impact. 

She serves on the Big Futures Cabinet for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City Capital Campaign and is in her 12th year on the Kansas City PBS board. She served as Board Chair for two years and continues contributing as Past Chair. She also joins the board of the Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, remains active in the PTA at Belinder Elementary and the Parents Association at Pembroke Hill, and holds a leadership role in Boy Scouts of America Pack 3291. 

Emmaline and her mother have committed to charitable work, recently joining the National Charity League. Emma has set a goal to complete 100 volunteer hours this school year to earn the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Like her mother, Emma stays busy with a variety of activities. She enjoys figure skating and playing tennis at Carriage Club. At Pembroke Hill, she serves as an ambassador and participates in theater. She holds a leadership role in the National Charity League Greater Kansas City Class of 2030. 

Bode enjoys hockey and tennis and is a swim team member at Carriage Club. He is also committed to scouting with Pack 3291. 

Despite their scheduled activities, they still find time to enjoy themselves. With a busy schedule and active children, finding time to relax can be challenging. However, they enjoy walking the neighborhoods and Kim partakes in Pilates at Carriage Club whenever she has a free moment. 

Kim feels lucky to have so many family-friendly places to explore in Kansas City; their favorite spot is the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium. As members, they loved watching it grow into a top-tier destination over the years. 

When they travel, they consider themselves Coloradans. Spending time in Colorado's high country, especially in the Vail Valley, is a favorite trip. In the winter, they love skiing on the slopes. In the summer, they make the most of parks, trails, and rivers. Whether winter or summer, there is always something exciting to do, and they look forward to each visit. 

Back at home, the Royals are their team. Watching George Brett as a child from seats along the 3rd baseline made Kim a lifelong fan. Those early memories at the ballpark cemented her love for the Royals. The excitement of the game has stayed with her ever since. 

Their history runs deep in Mission Hills, and Kim is so happy to be back. She says: “We are fortunate to have exceptional neighbors who demonstrate genuine care and attentiveness towards me and my children.” She also appreciates the opportunity to know many of them personally, including several she has known since childhood in Mission Hills. “This has created a true sense of community that we deeply value.” Mission Hills is lucky to have her back!