After battling cancer since May, former Liberty North boys track and field coach Ken Peek passed away.
His wife, Christina, posted that Peek lost his battle with glioblastoma on Feb. 9.
Peek discussed his battle with cancer with Mo Mile Split last spring and was optimistic he would beat the disease.
"I'm ready to go attack this cancer head-on," he said in May. "My mind is right and clear. I'm focused and ready. I got a living to do."
He coached for 26 years and retired in February before the outdoor track and field season started.
Last summer, he attended his Big Beefer Throw Clubs event in Liberty.
The coach in him never stopped coaching and he chronicled his struggles on a blog about the battle of cancer and sometimes the insurance companies.
He published two books while battling cancer and founded the Grip It and Rip It Foundation. The foundation strives to support students who desire to be teachers and coaches.
Peek graduated from Savannah High School and attended Northwest Missouri State. He was part of Northwest's 1992 MIAA track and field champion team.
He started his coaching/teaching career at Plattsburg High School in 1995. He was there for six years. He was an assistant football coach, middle school basketball coach, and volunteer track coach for a season before becoming the track coach and later athletic director. He also coached at Staley, North Kansas City, Oak Park and Belton. His daughter, Kaitlin Peek, threw at Liberty North. She placed 3rd at the 2021 Class 5 state championship in the discus and followed in her dad's footsteps and went to Northwest Missouri State but now attends Central Missouri.
Peek is survived by his wife, three children and three stepchildren.
Services and visitation will be held Feb. 24 at Heritage Hall in Liberty. Those who attend are asked to wear their Grip It and Rip or Big Beefer t-shirts to honor Peek.
A GoFundMe page has raised $33,000, about $17,000 shy of its goal.