Duane Leon Gulick
January 3, 1937 — January 15, 2012
Duane Leon Gulick of Reece, died on January 15, 2012 at his residence in Reece at the age of 75.
He was born on January 3, 1937 in Onaga, Kansas, the son of Emery Glenn Calvin and Iva Elizabeth (Walkup) Gulick. Duane attended school in the Eureka school system through the years and graduated from Tonovay High School in 1955. He was also a member of the Kansas National Guard during his school years. Duane then enlisted and served in the Navy from 1955-1958.
In 1959 Duane was united in marriage to Vessie George at the United Methodist Church in Neal, Kansas on January 24, 1959. Duane and Vessie were married for 52 years.
Duane’s career was always in agriculture. When Duane and Vessie were first married they lived in the Dodge City area and Duane worked for the Polkinghorn Feedyard, Isaac Trucking and the Sonny Powe Ranch. Duane and Vessie then moved back to the Eureka area and Duane worked for the Matador Cattle Company at Reece for 26 years. Duane worked his way up to foreman and then manager. When he retired in 1993 he had served as the manager of the Matador Cattle Company for twenty years. After Duane’s retirement from the Matador Cattle Company, he continued working in ranching for the Hendrickson and Teichgraeber Ranches. Duane loved spending time with all of his grandchildren, family and friends. Duane loved the sport of rodeo. His events were bareback riding, bull riding and team roping. Duane was a member of the PRCA, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He entered many rodeos and team roping locally and throughout the state. Duane also loved horse racing, helping Butch Gleason from Dodge City when Butch brought his horses to Eureka Downs throughout many seasons.
Duane was an avid KU Basketball fan and loved the sport. Duane played basketball in high school and while in the Navy he played on his ships team. Duane continued to follow horse racing, rodeo, PBR bull riding and KU basketball.
Duane attended the Jefferson Street Baptist Church. While in the Navy he was baptized on the USS Bushnell (AS-15).
Duane is survived by wife Vessie George Gulick of the home; daughter Diana Gulick Johnston and husband Wayne; son C.D. Gulick and wife Tressie; grandchildren Jacki Waters and husband Adam; Caleb and Gideon Gulick; great-grandchildren, Blayn and Brysun Waters.
Brothers, Walter Earl of Spearville, and Gerald Lee (Jerry) and wife Sis of Olpe. Many nieces, nephews, family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Thomas Emery, Duane Leon Jr. and Robert Duane; sister, Iva June Gulick Atwood McCurry; brothers, Glenn Dean, Robert Emery and Francis Wayne Gulick; and son-in-law Dale Anderson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Koup Family Funeral with Pastor Terry McIlvain officiating. Interment will follow at Neal Cemetery, Neal, Kansas.
A memorial has been established in his name to the Harmony Sunflowers Booster Club and may be left in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045.
He was born on January 3, 1937 in Onaga, Kansas, the son of Emery Glenn Calvin and Iva Elizabeth (Walkup) Gulick. Duane attended school in the Eureka school system through the years and graduated from Tonovay High School in 1955. He was also a member of the Kansas National Guard during his school years. Duane then enlisted and served in the Navy from 1955-1958.
In 1959 Duane was united in marriage to Vessie George at the United Methodist Church in Neal, Kansas on January 24, 1959. Duane and Vessie were married for 52 years.
Duane’s career was always in agriculture. When Duane and Vessie were first married they lived in the Dodge City area and Duane worked for the Polkinghorn Feedyard, Isaac Trucking and the Sonny Powe Ranch. Duane and Vessie then moved back to the Eureka area and Duane worked for the Matador Cattle Company at Reece for 26 years. Duane worked his way up to foreman and then manager. When he retired in 1993 he had served as the manager of the Matador Cattle Company for twenty years. After Duane’s retirement from the Matador Cattle Company, he continued working in ranching for the Hendrickson and Teichgraeber Ranches. Duane loved spending time with all of his grandchildren, family and friends. Duane loved the sport of rodeo. His events were bareback riding, bull riding and team roping. Duane was a member of the PRCA, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He entered many rodeos and team roping locally and throughout the state. Duane also loved horse racing, helping Butch Gleason from Dodge City when Butch brought his horses to Eureka Downs throughout many seasons.
Duane was an avid KU Basketball fan and loved the sport. Duane played basketball in high school and while in the Navy he played on his ships team. Duane continued to follow horse racing, rodeo, PBR bull riding and KU basketball.
Duane attended the Jefferson Street Baptist Church. While in the Navy he was baptized on the USS Bushnell (AS-15).
Duane is survived by wife Vessie George Gulick of the home; daughter Diana Gulick Johnston and husband Wayne; son C.D. Gulick and wife Tressie; grandchildren Jacki Waters and husband Adam; Caleb and Gideon Gulick; great-grandchildren, Blayn and Brysun Waters.
Brothers, Walter Earl of Spearville, and Gerald Lee (Jerry) and wife Sis of Olpe. Many nieces, nephews, family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Thomas Emery, Duane Leon Jr. and Robert Duane; sister, Iva June Gulick Atwood McCurry; brothers, Glenn Dean, Robert Emery and Francis Wayne Gulick; and son-in-law Dale Anderson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Koup Family Funeral with Pastor Terry McIlvain officiating. Interment will follow at Neal Cemetery, Neal, Kansas.
A memorial has been established in his name to the Harmony Sunflowers Booster Club and may be left in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045.
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