Kathleen Marjorie (Schnider) Gansel passed away April 17, 2023, in Hays, Kansas, at the age of 88. She was born at the family home in Cottonwood, Idaho, April 4, 1935, to Louis and Magdalene (Sattler) Schnider. Growing up on a farm, she kept busy, along with her seven siblings, taking care of cattle, hogs, chickens and the garden.
Kathy attended Catholic schools through high school graduating from St. Gertrude’s Academy. She earned her teaching degree from Holy Names College in Spokane, Washington. While teaching in Spokane, Washington she met her love, Frank Solomon Gansel, who was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base. Frank was actually on a date with Kathy’s sister when they met; but true love prevailed. They were married August 2, 1958, in Cottonwood, Idaho. In August of 1959, the couple moved to Hill City, Kansas where they began their family with Steve (1959), followed by Fran (1960), Chris (1961), Mary Lou (1963) and David (1964).
Kathy taught in the Hill City schools from 1969-1998. A devout Catholic, she was an active member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. She shared her talents as a musician, CCD teacher and parish council member. Kathy lived her faith in every aspect of her life. A rosary was never far from her at any time. In the summers, you could find the family traveling around to Little Britches Rodeos making friends that would last a lifetime. Kathy and Buddy were always staples at the Jayhawker Rodeo in Graham County, working many hours to support it. Music was also a great love of Kathy’s. She played piano in junior and senior high school with a local traveling dance band called “The Firehouse Five”. Her grandchildren loved to hear her play the piano and she taught several of them to play. Kathy and Buddy also loved to dance.
No one was a bigger supporter of her children, grandchildren and later, great grandchildren. If she couldn’t be at your school concert, sporting event, band gig or activity – you would receive numerous phone calls wanting to know all about it. This was still happening up until her death. While in the hospital in Hays, Dylan had prom. She was not content until she saw pictures from that dance.
Kathy and Buddy’s house was the perfect haven for coming home. Everyone has memories that will last forever. Kathy was a wonderful cook, and food was always plentiful. Two generations of children remember riding around the complex on four-wheelers, while Grandma sat in a lawn chair and sprayed them with the hose. Easter egg scavenger hunts were a treat every year with Kathy delighting in sending you inside, outside, and up trees to find the bounty. So many little hands spent time helping in the garden and sharing in the spoils. This home was shared by many; you didn’t have to be related by blood. Many friends shared in the love and generosity. Kathy loved to laugh, and April Fool’s was a favorite day. Chris and Buddy were often the ones being pranked. One time they rushed to a field where horses were said to be out. She also loved to remember birthdays and anniversaries and doubtfully there is a person in this church who did not receive a phone call on their special day.
She was preceded in death by her children: Fran, Mary Lou, David, and Joseph Michael; her parents; and her siblings: Harry, Doris and Larry.
Kathy will be greatly missed by a family who loved her dearly: her husband Frank “Buddy” of the home; Two sons, Steve, wife Mary Rose and granddaughter Gabrielle of Franklin, Tennessee, and Chris, wife Marcy and grandson Dylan of Hill City; two granddaughters, Emily of Austin, Texas, and Megan, husband Colton, great grandchildren Jeremiah and Zella Rose Walker of Topeka, and grandson Ethan of Glenwood Springs, Colorado; son-in-law Bill McCollum of Houston, Texas; grandson Ben, fiancé Suziey, great grandchildren Evan and Maxim McCollum of London, England; granddaughter Angie McCollum of Portland, Oregon; grandsons, Barry, wife Hannah, great grandchildren Cadence, Hutch and Duke of Hill City, and Braden McCollum of Fort Collins, Colorado; and granddaughter Amary and R.J Ellis of Hill City; siblings: Betty Lou Gilchrist of Roseville, California, Marybelle Neary and husband Jake of LaPorte, Indiana, and Ronnie Schnider of Cottonwood, Idaho; along with many other family members and friends.
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