Walter Gehlbach Obituary

Walter Roy Gehlbach died Sept. 16, 2022.

Born May 1, 1928 in Lincoln, Illinois to Harry J. and Anna Schrader Gehlbach, Walt was raised on his family farm near Beason. His football prowess in Lincoln, Illinois earned him a football scholarship to the University of Illinois in 1944. However with brothers away in WWII, Walt stayed home to care for the farm and remaining family and the scholarship expired. Family friend, Leonard "Miler" Miller, drove Walt to his alma mater, Kansas State University. Walt played defensive tackle for the Wildcats several seasons. He graduated with a Bachelor's in Agriculture in 1951.



Walt served in the Air Force in Korea 1951-1953, then returned to K-State to earn his masters degree in 1954. He taught vocational agriculture and coached football at Alma High School, then Lawrence High School in 1957, where he proudly coached the Little Lions. In 1966, he became director of student admissions and records for the University of Kansas Medical Center, establishing that office at the medical center in 1968. He retired from KU in 1991.

At K-State, he met Lou Ellen Poore from Kansas City, Kansas. They married on Dec. 21, 1950, had four children, and celebrated 65 years together before Lou died in 2016.

Walt was kind, jovial and beloved by many. He enjoyed golf, bridge and billiards. He liked just two kinds of pie; hot and cold. Ice cream was his favorite food. Walt and Lou were longtime members of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village and enjoyed their retirement years at Lakeview Village.

Preceded in death by son Bruce and wife Lou, Walt is survived by his brother Charles, his children Deb (Ray) Rowden, Gregg (Linda) Gehlbach and Dan (Janis) Gehlbach; grandchildren Betsy (Jen) Rogers and Kate (Nick) Kuzmyak; Dylan, Doug and Ben Gehlbach; great-grandchildren Grace and Henry Gehlbach and Ward Kuzmyak; and many nieces and nephews.

Walt's family would like to extend our deepest thanks to the staff at Lakeview Village and Elara Caring.

Join us for a celebration of Walt's life on Thursday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m. at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 6306 Roe Ave, Prairie Village, KS 66208. Memorials in his name can be made to Southminster.