Christopher James Gerstner passed away at his home in Colby on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, at the age of 64. He was born in Colby on March 14, 1958, the fifth of eight children of Alfred and Kathryn (Kit) Gerstner.
After graduating from Colby High School in the spring of 1976, he attended Colby Community College, as he put it, majoring in baseball.
He worked for A. F. Dible, Colby and Gigot farms of Garden City, pursuing a farming occupation. On April 19, 1986, in Colby, he married the love of his life, Diann Tucker. They continued to live in Colby where they raised their four children.
An
ice storm on Dec. 2, 1986, and an early morning phone call from his
father, Great Plains Electric manager, started his 27-year electrical
lineman career. Chris loved the work, even being nicknamed for awhile
“Smiley” because he always had a smile on his face. He worked with a
crew that he would put up against any other crew in the world, saying
they could do the work faster and better. Then in 2011 he had the honor
of becoming the Midwest Energy Electric manager for seven years before
retiring due to the toll of cancer treatment. The men working under him
were always “his” and he worried about their safety at all times, always
reminding them to “Be safe out there.”
Woodworking and sheet rocking was Chris’ other love. His love for this
type of work led to owning rentals and even flipping one house. His
woodworking shop was his pride and joy.
Chris greatly enjoyed the Kansas Jaycee organization, making many
friends and enjoying the community service projects. The Redrum Haunted
House was a favorite project as he was able to use his carpentry skills.
Chris was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Diann Gerstner of Colby, children: Christy
Gerstner (Kelly Kenmitz), of Wichita, Kelly Gerstner (David Wichman)
of Arlington, Va., Kimberly (Grant) Mercer, of Rochester, Mich., and Tucker
Gerstner of Hutchinson; one grandchild, Cambri Dietz of Wichita; siblings: Linda Stockman of Colby, Cindy (Dane) Cutting of
Chandler, Ariz., Carol Diane Gerstner of Colby, Ann (Cary) Siemsen of
Colby, Rex (Michael Graham) Gerstner of Dallas, Laura (Duke
Schiefelbein) Mueller of Derby, and Melissa (Robert) Haberkorn of
Beaufort, S.C.
Cremation was chosen. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday,
Jan. 2 at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. The memorial service will be at
10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3 at the Colby United Methodist
Church.
Memorials may be made to the Foundation for Hope or the CHS Ag Ed and Tech Center and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701.
Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com.