Gail Roepke

Gail A. Roepke, age 90, of Waterville, passed away at Country Living in Marysville, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

Gail was born on January 4, 1933, in his parents’ living room on the family farm south of Cottage Hill.  He attended Cottage Hill Country School and graduated from Waterville High School with the class of 1950.  He married his childhood sweetheart Beverly “Bevy” Roeth on August 22, 1954.

Gail worked as a farmer and stockman on their farm south of Cottage Hill.  When he and Bevy were first married, he joined the US Army serving at Fort Riley.  For two years he would leave early in the morning for duty at Fort Riley, then come home to farm in the evenings and weekends.  Gail and his father owned Roepke Hog Farms, selling breeding stock to other farmers throughout the Midwest, and managing the oldest continuously registered Duroc herd in Kansas.   In addition to farming, Gail served on various Boards of Directors over the years for organizations including the Citizen’s State Bank, the Marysville Country Club, the Kansas Pork Producers, and the Kansas Soil Conservation District. He also volunteered to help Bevy with her work with the Girl Scouts and Summer Theater and the Waterville Preservation Society.

Gail was a member of the Waterville United Methodist Church, Springer Post 332 of the American Legion, the Lions Club, and Sutton Lodge #85 of the AF&AM also in Waterville.  He was a member of the Arab Shrine unit based in Topeka. 

Over the years Gail and Bevy enjoyed many trips and fun times.  He once drove a bus full of Girl Scouts to a camping trip in Estes Park.  He and Bevy went on rafting trips to the Grand Canyon and the Green River and went skiing in Colorado every Winter.  Gail also loved to golf, and to go water skiing at Tuttle Creek.  In their later years Gail and Bevy enjoyed trips to England, Italy, and cruises in Europe and the Caribbean.

Gail was the host of many parties and celebrations over the years. For over 50 years running, he met with friends to celebrate Labor Day with a Champagne Breakfast, which some years would run into a full day event featuring a whole-hog barbeque.  Some people said he would use any excuse to throw a party, and he solidified that reputation by once throwing a surprise party for Bevy when she earned her pin for donating 10 gallons of blood to the Bloodmobile. Most recently, in May of this year Gail and Bevy shared their joint ‘180^th Birthday’ party in Waterville, surrounded by family and friends.

Survivors include his wife Bevy, his daughter Kim Roepke of Colorado Springs, Colorado, four grandchildren: Arthur (Heather Dougherty) Donovan, Philip (Jenna) Donovan, Clare (Brian) Donovan-Scane and Emmett (Jaime) Donovan, all of Chicago, Illinois. 

Preceding Gail in death were his parents, a brother Melvin Roepke and a sister Margaret Siebert.

Viewing is from noon to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, with visitation between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, at Christie-Anderes Funeral Home in Waterville.

Funeral services are at 10:00 am, Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at the United Methodist Church in Waterville with Pastor Berniece Ludlum officiating.  Music will be provided by Organist Beverly Hedke and Soloist Kim Oatney.  Hymns are to include “Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone” and “How Great Thou Art”.   Casket Bearers include Arthur Donovan, Philip Donovan, Kevin Roepke, Scott Roepke, Kirk Roepke and Ben Arganbright. Honorary Bearer is Craig Roepke.  Remembrances will be presented at the funeral by Kevin Roepke and Thad Arganbright. Burial is at Riverside Cemetery in Waterville.

Memorials are suggested to the Gail Roepke Memorial, to be designated later, and may be sent in care of Christie-Anderes Funeral Home at PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.