Gail Stauffer

Gail Edward Stauffer, 90, retired medical laboratory technician and WWII veteran passed away Friday, July 8, 2011. Gail was born October 20, 1920, on a farm near Conway Springs, KS in Sumner County to John and Hannah (Funk) Stauffer. Gail had one sister, Mary Lou, who died in infancy. As a young child, Gail had a dog named Bo who would grab him by the seat of the pants if Gail went walking toward the railroad tracks or creek near the farm home. Gail attended a one room rural elementary school called Science Valley through 8th grade. He graduated from Conway Springs High School in 1938. After high school, Gail attended Friends University in Wichita, KS. In order to pay for his tuition, he had to work evenings and weekends for the Wichita Eagle newspaper. Later he found a better paying job working for the Refined Oil Co. Then he worked for Carl Graham’s Glass Co. Gail was drafted into the Army in 1942. He served in the Army Medical Corp for almost four years during WWII. Upon return to Kansas, Gail finished his degree at Friends University.

While stationed at Fort Dix, Gail married Marjorie Emma Jenetzky on February 10, 1946, in the United Methodist Church of Clearwater, KS. After the military, they resided in Wichita. Gail began work as the medical technologist for the Osteopathic Hospital of Wichita, later called the Riverside Hospital. He retired in 1985 after 38 years as the Laboratory Director of Riverside Hospital.

Gail loved camping, fishing, and coaching baseball and softball. He was an avid collector most known for his barbed wire collection and his pen collection.

He had been President of Kansas State Medical Technologist Association, a life member of the Pleasant Valley Lions Club in Wichita, an active member of the McPherson Noon Kiwanis Club, a member of American Legion Post #24. He had also volunteered for American Red Cross as a driver to deliver blood supplies across Kansas and was an active member of the McPherson Church of the Brethren and previously the Wichita First Church of the Brethren.

While residing in the Cedars village, he could be found calling Bingo for the residents in the Health Care Center.

Gail was preceded in death by his parents and baby sister. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, two children, James (Diane) Stauffer and Patricia (Ward) Nippert; 4 grandchildren, Dr. Jesse (Anna) Nippert, Matt (Mollie) Stauffer, Heather (Daniel) Dannahower, and Krissa (David) Hollinger. He is also survived by 7 great-grandchildren, Kalea, Kyra, Lucy, and Livia Nippert, Miah and Will Dannahower, and Heidi Stauffer.

A Graveside service will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at 10:00 AM at the Conway Springs Cemetery, Conway Springs, Kansas with Military Honors by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. A memorial service will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at the McPherson Church of the Brethren. There will be no visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the McPherson Church of the Brethren or The Cedars in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Gail Stauffer please visit our Sympathy Store.