Gayle Lavern Mollenkamp

March 14, 2023

Gayle Mollenkamp 93 went home to be with his Lord on March 6, 2023 surrounded by family at his home in Bartlesville, OK. Gayle was born the second of two children to Walter and Elsie (Jesse) Mollenkamp on November 30, 1929 at the family farm in Trego County, Kansas. 
Gayle married Marilyn Farmer, daughter of Wilbur and Elma Farmer of Ransom, Kansas on June 20, 1948. To this union, three children were born; Lorelei (Mollenkamp) Edwards, Dwight Mollenkamp, and Mark Mollenkamp.
Gayle and Marilyn made their home on the farm in Trego County near Arnold, Kansas until they moved to the ranch in Logan County near Russell Springs, Kansas in 1955. After Gayle retired in 1997, he and Marilyn moved to Quinter, Kansas.
Marilyn, Gayle’s wife of 51 years passed September 1, 1999.
Gayle married Judy Life, daughter of Howard and Lucile Life of Sedan, Kansas, on April 10, 2002.
Gayle’s greatest love was God, his family, farming/ranching, and serving his community in many ways. Martin Ward and Gayle purchased a deep water well drilling rig and drilled many water wells in the community. Gayle was a member of the Russell Springs School Board for a number of years. A Logan County Commissioner for 15 years and the 118th District Kansas State Representative for 16 years between the years 1984-2000. Gayle enjoyed representing the concerns of those in his district, working hard for less big government and more local control. Gayle was a member of the Soil Conservation Board, NW KS Highway Officials Assoc., a Church Member, Men for Missions Int’l cabinet member, and Pilot for Wings for Missions. He utilized his airplane to serve the travel needs for many Missionaries and Pastors. Gayle also took several trips to Haiti to help drill water wells and build roads.
Gayle and Judy made their home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and became members of the First Wesleyan Church and made and enjoyed many close friends.
Gayle was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Elsie Mollenkamp, his wife Marilyn, and sister Madelyn Guthrie. He is survived by his wife Judy, three children Lori (Keith) Edwards of Russell Springs, KS; Dwight (Ronda) Mollenkamp of Garden Plain, KS; Mark (Roxanne) Mollenkamp of Quinter, KS. Eight Grandchildren, Cameron (Rebecca) Edwards, Matthew (Mitzi) Edwards, Tiffany (Tony) Diehl, Jacki Mollenkamp, David Mollenkamp, Doyle (Skylar) Mollenkamp, Jessica Murray, and Shelby (Jess) Mollenkamp; 17 Great Grandchildren, and three Great, Great Grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be on March 18, 2023 at 11:00 am at Gateway Fellowship Church in Oakley, Kansas.
Memorials may be made to the Logan County Community Foundation or the First Wesleyan Church of Bartlesville, OK in care of Gateway Fellowship, 806 E. 2nd Street, Oakley, KS 67748.