Alan Gyles Obituary

Alan Thomas Gyles was born in Negaunee, Michigan on March 20, 1949, to Doreen and Thomas Gyles. Al attended Negaunee High School and graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1971.

Al married his college sweetheart, Kathleen Marie Sullivan, in August of 1972. They would have celebrated their 54th anniversary this summer.

Al began his teaching career as an industrial arts and mathematics teacher at Thunder Bay High School in Alpena, Michigan before the family moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 1982. He then had a long career teaching mathematics at Lawrence High School before retiring from Free State High School in 2011. During his tenure with USD #497, he served many extracurricular hours on the Friday night football field as part of the chain gang and announcing for varsity basketball games where his jokes kept his coworkers entertained. He also served as an active member and president of the Lawrence Educators Association (LEA).

As his kids were growing up, he never missed a game or concert and took quiet but great pride in witnessing their accomplishments. (While strategically getting paid as crowd control or ticket taker). He was the most reliable and steady parent. As a teacher, he also became a father figure to his kids' friend groups, earning the nickname, Papa Gyles.

Both Al and Kathy spent many years on the golf course – rarely with carts – always walking all 18 holes.

Alan enjoyed a monthly poker game comprised primarily of retired educators.

He was known to his family as "our own Bob Villa," renovating each home the family lived in to suit their needs, passing along his carpentry skills to his kids.

After retirement, Al and Kathy enjoyed traveling as full time RVers across the country as well as Canada. They were members of Cedar Creek Camper, Midwest Prairie Schooners and Forest River Owners Group. They spent most summers in Michigan with family biking, camping and kayaking. Most recent winters were spent camping with friends in Rockport, Texas until moving back to Lawrence this past spring.

Al was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Kathleen, daughter Tamara Loats (Bill), son Jason Gyles, Grandchildren, Evan McEwen, Maylee Roatch-Gyles and Micah Roatch-Gyles, and sister Darlene Miljour (Gerald).

A Funeral Service will take place at Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation starting one hour prior.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Alan's name go to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for the Cancer Center or Freedoms donations: https://www.lmh.org/foundation/donate-online/