Obituary of Gerald Weymon Persinger

IN LOVING MEMORY OF GERALD W. PERSINGER Gerald Weymon Persinger, youngest son of Henry Persinger and Esta Pettijohn Persinger's five children was born on the family farm near Norton, Kansas on March 30, 1923. He passed away on October 21, 2013 at the Arbor Rose Senior Care facility in Mesa, Arizona. Gerald attended rural Norton County grade schools and helped on the family farm during his early years. As a teenager he moved to Jetmore, Kansas to assist his sister and husband, Verla and James Ringgenberg with their Phillips 66 gas station. He graduated from Jetmore High School in 1941. After high school, he returned to Norton County to develop a farming business in Norton and Graham Counties and also for a short time in Colorado. He kept the family farm going when his two brothers were called to serve in the war. On December 9, 1948 Gerald married Arbutus Jones of Hill City, Kansas and they resided for several years in the house which he and his brother Raymond had built at 302 N. Norton in Norton, Kansas. During this time their children, Susan and Steven were born. In 1957, the family moved to a farm near Lenora, Kansas and lived there until returning to Norton County in 1962. He purchased a farm southeast of Norton and resided there until retiring to Mesa, Arizona in the mid-1980's. While continuing to develop the farming operation, Gerald was also actively involved in several organizations. He served at the county, state and national level for the Kansas Wheat Growers Association and made several trips to Washington, DC as an agriculture advocate. He also served on the Township Board, the County Extension Board, the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Board and a Norton community school committee. In 1974, Gerald and Arbutus received a Kansas Banker's Association Soil Conservation award in recognition for stewardship of their land. Gerald was also a member of Norton Christian Church. In 1980, Arbutus died suddenly in an automobile accident. Later Gerald met Kathleen Wilson Archer and they united in marriage on January 28, 1984. Gerald and Kathleen remained on the farm until retiring to Mesa and assisting Gerald's two sisters there. While in retirement, Gerald continued his passion to travel and completed a visit to every one of the 50 states in the USA. During his life, he also visited Cuba, Canada, Mexico, and the Panama Canal. After retiring, he accumulated an extensive collection of Mexican ironwood carvings and Avon bottles. He also continued his woodworking hobby while creating many projects he shared with family and friends. Gerald loved life and his family. He had a keen sense of humor and appreciation for friends and caregivers. His core values included perseverance, determination and optimism. Even after moving to Arizona, his interest in the family farm in Kansas never waned. He felt a sense of pride knowing that the land his father farmed was continuing in the care of the third and fourth generation of the family. Gerald will be missed by his wife Kathleen of Mesa, Arizona; daughter Susan and her husband Ray Flickner, Wichita; son Steven and his wife Deborah of Norton; stepson Jim and wife Marcia Archer of Ladera Ranch, California; stepson Steve and wife Cheryl Archer of Amarillo, Texas; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and many friends. Preceding him in death were his parents, brothers Ivan and Raymond, sisters Verla and Mildred, stepsons Leon and Rodney, and one grandson. A memorial has been established to the Gerald Persinger Memorial Fund.