Gayle Thomas Kantack

Gayle Thomas Kantack was born December 31, 1939, to Frank and Odella (Alexander) Kantack in Broughton, KS. He attended Clifton High School and graduated in 1957. He then attended Kansas State University and graduated with a degree in Agriculture in January 1962. He was accepted into the Peace Corps (Jan. 1962) and went to El Salvador as a livestock specialist and worked with local farmers on improving livestock for 2 years.

While there he met Blanca Antonia Rodas Palacios. They were united in marriage on May 2, 1964 in Clifton, KS. They were blessed with four daughters: Janet, Diane, Charlene and Sandra.

He worked in Washington, KS as a social worker in the Social Welfare Dept. for 2 years. Then he went to work for Farmer's Home Administration as a farm management specialist and loan officer in the US Department of Agriculture. After 2 years as an assistant in Ottawa, Ks, he went to Burlington, Ks as the County Supervisor for Coffey and Woodson Counties for 23 years. He took early retirement from the Federal Gov't in Jan. 1992. He then went to work for Beyer Motor Company as a Sales Consultant for 10 years. After retiring from Beyer's, he worked for the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas for several years.

He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for 47 years and a member of Knights of Columbus for 50+ years. His hobbies included Cat fishing, camping, playing on his computer, drinking coffee at the local bakery with friends and traveling.

Gayle passed away on September 10, 2015 in Topeka, KS at Atria Senior Living. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December of 2014. Gayle was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Catherine and Cecilia, and a brother, Franklin. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Blanca of Topeka; daughter and son-in-law Janet and Jerry Bulmer of Auburn, NE; daughter Diane Kantack of Glendale, CA; daughter and son-in-law Charlene and Wayne Anderson of Newbury Park, CA; daughter Sandra Kantack of Plano, TX; 7 grandchildren: Chelsea, Chandler, Charity and Chasity Bulmer and Derick, Monica and Trevor Anderson; 9 sisters and 6 brothers-in-law: Janet and Wayne Anderson, Linda and Jerry Bessette, Theresa and Dan Springer, Marilyn and Vince Boudreau, Emagene and Richard Schwindt, Carolyn Blasing, Donna Miles, Zita and Merrill Lancaster, and Michele Dempewolf ; one brother and sister-in-law: Mike and Linda Kantack; 26 nieces and nephews; four brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law and 8 nieces and nephews in Guatemala, Central America.

Gayle will be dearly missed by all! He will be laid to rest in Clifton with his parents.
The Wake and Rosary will be Thursday, September 17, 2015 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Burlington, KS at 6:30 p.m. The family will begin greeting at 5:00 p.m. A Memorial Mass and burial will be Saturday, September 19, 2015 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Clifton, KS at 11:00 a.m.