Gail Fenner Colson

Gail Fenner Colson was a wonderful husband, father, grandpap, great grandpap, postmaster, farmer, poet, friend, and Christian.

Gail loved God. In the summer of 1947 he was baptized into Christ in White Rock Creek by Don Hines. He attended the EUB church in Esbon and then Dentonia Church of Christ where he served as Elder from 1973 until 1998. He has recently attended the Mankato Christian Church. He has preached, taught Bible classes, and encouraged his children to pursue a life of faith. He had a particular heart for lives of unborn children and was a passionate supporter of that cause.

Gail loved family. He was married to Phyllis Ann (King) for 63 years. He loved two sons, Russell and James, four grandchildren, Laurie Ann Sand, Fenner Edward Colson, Erin Simmonds Colson, and Rilla Gail Colson, three great grandchildren, Nora, Paul, and Jack Sand, two daughters-in-law, Mary and Keisha Colson, and one grandson-in-law, Jordan Sand. He leaves us all with a legacy of building family love through camping, fishing, games, sincere conversation, walks up the crick, wiener roasts, taking pictures and telling stories. He coached peewee baseball for many years when his children were young. He created Ye Old Mystery Tree and Mystery Tree Bunny activities which delighted his grandchildren for two decades.

Gail was a writer, artist, and poet. He often read or recited poetry at gatherings. He wrote many poems for friends and family, especially poems that marked special times and moments of change. He wrote stories of past times, many published in national magazines. After retirement, he made metal sculptures using pieces of metal that told personal stories. He loved birds and always kept wren houses around the house.

Gail was born Jan 8, 1929 to Russell E and Ruth L (Fenner) Colson in a rock house in Jewell County Kansas. He attended two country schools, then Ionia, and finally Esbon where he graduated high school in 1946. He attended the Electronic Radio and Television Institute in Omaha, NE and worked for station KTNM in Tucumcari NM from 1949-1950. He was a ham radio enthusiast. He went into the Air Force in 1951 where he taught electronics and radar at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. When his father died in 1953, he returned to the farm and joined the American Legion. He entered the US Postal Service in 1961 where he worked for 28 years and retired as Postmaster of Mankato, KS. After retirement, he and Phyllis worked the farm and raised cattle. Gail leaves behind his wife, 2 sons, 2 daughters in law, 4 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, 1 grandson in law, 4 brothers in law and 5 sisters in law.

Gail died, November 25, 2014, at his home in Mankato, Kansas, at the age of 85 years, 10 months, and 17 days.

A celebration of life service and a time for sharing will be (was) held Saturday, November 29. 2014, at 10:30 a.m., at the Melby Mortuary Chapel, with Pastor Thaddeus Hinkle officating. Interment with military honors will be held at the Ionia Cemetery, Ionia, Kansas, with McConnell Air FOrce Base Honor Guard, Jewell American Legion Post No. 72, and Perry Lamb American Legion Post No. 263, Esbon. Visitation will be (was) Friday, November 28, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm, with the family greeting friends from 6:30 pm to 8:00 p.m at the Mortuary Chapel. The family suggests memorials in honor of Gail F. Colson be given to Christian Church, Mankato, or Solomon Valley Hospice, Beloit. Online condolences may be left at www.melbymortuary.com. Melby Mortuary, 402 N. High Street, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.