Obituary for Gary R. Drussel
Gary R. Drussel, 78, died Friday, July 17, 2020 in Garden City. He was born September 14, 1941 in Dodge City, Kansas to O.W. ‘Ob' and Lorena Drussel. Gary’s childhood was spent in Cimarron, Kansas where he graduated in 1959. During high school he became a ham radio operator and enjoyed a lifetime of making friends around the world.
He graduated (then) Fort Hays Kansas State College, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1965 and was a member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. While in college, he met Patty Patterson, the woman with whom he would share his life. Patty and Gary were married in 1965 and moved to Wichita where Gary began work for the Boeing Company. In 1970, he accepted a position as V.P. of Sales for Tradewind Industries and the family moved to Liberal, Kansas. In 1977 they relocated to Garden City, Kansas so Gary could assume leadership of the family farm, allowing his father to retire. In 1979, Gary and Patty opened Drussel Seed and Supply, Inc., a full-service seed business processing, cleaning and treating registered and certified seed, and growing wheat for seed and many other seeds crops. Their children were involved in the business from the beginning with Colby and his wife Terrie carrying on aspects of the business after Gary and Patty’s retirement.
Gary was a past president of the Kansas Seed Dealers Industry Association, a member of the Farm Bureau board, the Sandhills Amateur Radio Club, a lifetime member of Lee Richardson Zoo. He worshipped at the First United Methodist Church of Port Isabel, Texas, and Garden City, Kansas. A lover of wheels, wings, and keels, Gary was adventurous and enjoyed sailing, making several blue water voyages. He loved flying his own airplanes and sharing that with his family and friends. A lifelong resident of the state of Kansas, Gary was also happy spending his last 25 winters at a home in Port Isabel, Texas, where he was always up for some fishing. When COPD limited his physical capacity, his joy came from family and the Ham radio community and his Saturday morning breakfasts with the Ham radio club.
Gary is survived by his wife Patty, his daughter Terry Drussel (partner Cody Beebe) and her son Oliver Bennett of Bellingham, Washington, and his son Colby Drussel (wife Terrie) of Garden City and their daughters Mallorie Gonzales, McKinsey Glavin (husband Jacob), Morgan Klassen (husband Jake) and family, and Mariah Drussel, as well as their sons Bryce Drussel, Devin Gonzales (wife Addy) and family, Tyson Drussel (wife Shannon) and family, and Nicholas Miller (wife Rachel). Gary is survived by his sister Jo Ann Howse, resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma near her son Darin Howse (wife Kandice) and family, and her daughter Kara Howse and son Nick.
Memorials may be made to the Sandhills Amateur Radio Club and the Lee Richardson Zoo in care of Garnand Funeral Home.
He graduated (then) Fort Hays Kansas State College, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1965 and was a member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. While in college, he met Patty Patterson, the woman with whom he would share his life. Patty and Gary were married in 1965 and moved to Wichita where Gary began work for the Boeing Company. In 1970, he accepted a position as V.P. of Sales for Tradewind Industries and the family moved to Liberal, Kansas. In 1977 they relocated to Garden City, Kansas so Gary could assume leadership of the family farm, allowing his father to retire. In 1979, Gary and Patty opened Drussel Seed and Supply, Inc., a full-service seed business processing, cleaning and treating registered and certified seed, and growing wheat for seed and many other seeds crops. Their children were involved in the business from the beginning with Colby and his wife Terrie carrying on aspects of the business after Gary and Patty’s retirement.
Gary was a past president of the Kansas Seed Dealers Industry Association, a member of the Farm Bureau board, the Sandhills Amateur Radio Club, a lifetime member of Lee Richardson Zoo. He worshipped at the First United Methodist Church of Port Isabel, Texas, and Garden City, Kansas. A lover of wheels, wings, and keels, Gary was adventurous and enjoyed sailing, making several blue water voyages. He loved flying his own airplanes and sharing that with his family and friends. A lifelong resident of the state of Kansas, Gary was also happy spending his last 25 winters at a home in Port Isabel, Texas, where he was always up for some fishing. When COPD limited his physical capacity, his joy came from family and the Ham radio community and his Saturday morning breakfasts with the Ham radio club.
Gary is survived by his wife Patty, his daughter Terry Drussel (partner Cody Beebe) and her son Oliver Bennett of Bellingham, Washington, and his son Colby Drussel (wife Terrie) of Garden City and their daughters Mallorie Gonzales, McKinsey Glavin (husband Jacob), Morgan Klassen (husband Jake) and family, and Mariah Drussel, as well as their sons Bryce Drussel, Devin Gonzales (wife Addy) and family, Tyson Drussel (wife Shannon) and family, and Nicholas Miller (wife Rachel). Gary is survived by his sister Jo Ann Howse, resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma near her son Darin Howse (wife Kandice) and family, and her daughter Kara Howse and son Nick.
Memorials may be made to the Sandhills Amateur Radio Club and the Lee Richardson Zoo in care of Garnand Funeral Home.