Dennis Hampl

Dennis Elliot Hampl, 79, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Community Memorial Healthcare in Marysville, Kansas, with family members at his side. Dennis was a longtime resident of Marysville and taught Industrial Arts and Drafting for USD 364 Marysville Public Schools for 25 years.

He was born on March 15, 1946, in Westmoreland, Kansas to Elmer and Kathryn (Toburen) Hampl. He grew up in the small river town of Cleburne in Riley County. His family moved to Olsburg before the completion of Tuttle Creek Dam, and he graduated from Blue Valley High School in Randolph in 1964.

On July 15, 1967, he married his “high school sweetheart” Mary Jo Hedke at the Hedke family farm north of Randolph. The couple moved to Emporia, and Dennis received his teaching degree from Kansas State Teacher’s College (now called Emporia State University) in 1968.

Dennis and Mary Jo would move to Larned, Loveland (Colorado), Marysville, Beloit, and then return to Marysville to be closer to family. He taught Industrial Arts at Pawnee Rock High School, Loveland Public Schools, Glasco High School, and Marysville Junior-Senior High School. He taught Industrial Arts and Drafting for USD 364 Marysville for 25 school years. He also coached basketball and track at different points in his teaching career. He enjoyed making a difference in the life of his students and celebrating their success. He also had experience helping in the lumber yard in Cleburne and doing residential contracting in Loveland, CO.

Dennis was a longtime member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was baptized by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Rawlins, Wyoming in 1972. He enjoyed attending meetings and reading his faith’s literature.

Dennis was an avid classic car enthusiast and participated in many area car shows. His favorite make was Oldsmobile. He was a live concert enthusiast, especially rock and country music. He was a lifetime follower of Kansas State University Basketball and a huge college basketball fan. He enjoyed the simple things in life, such as going on family vacations and doing yard work at the Hedke family farm. He and Mary Jo hosted a community farm picnic titled “Otter Creek Picnic” on the Hedke Farmyard (established 1894) held each fall since 2000. Dennis also enjoyed organizing reunions for the city of Cleburne, as well as sponsoring Richter and Hedke family reunions.

Dennis was preceded in death by his father, Elmer, in 1959. His mother, Kathryn Hampl passed away in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Hampl of Marysville; three sons, Ryan (Cherie) Hampl of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Jason (Heather) Hampl, of Andover, Kansas, and Travis (Aimee) Hampl of Hiawatha, Kansas; one daughter, Kelsey of Kansas City, Missouri; six grandchildren in Kansas & Oklahoma: Justin Hampl, Timothy Hampl, Luke Hampl, Nicholas Hampl, Cooper Hampl, and Grace Hampl; his sister, Muriel Sanchez, and niece, Stephanie Sanchez of Topeka.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Christie-Anderes Funeral Home in Waterville.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Christie-Anderes Funeral Home in Waterville. A luncheon will follow the service at the Waterville Community Center. A graveside service will be held at Fancy Creek Randolph Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Community Memorial Healthcare and left in care of the Christie-Anderes Funeral Home, PO Box 61, Waterville, KS 66548.