Gary Evan Cassel, 92, passed away peacefully on February 18, with a smile on his face and holding his sweetheart’s hand. A devoted husband, a loving father, and an adoring grandfather, he left a legacy of love, laughter, and a life well-lived.
Born in 1932 in Beverly Kansas, Gary was a man of boundless energy and enthusiasm. An athlete through and through. While in college, he was chosen as a member of the NAIA All-American Basketball team and held numerous basketball records, including career points at Kansas Wesleyan for over 70 years. He was an avid runner and ran countless races, even well into his 80’s. He was always on the move. Whether he was running, shooting hoops, or showing off his lightning-fast reflexes in a game of table tennis, he played with a joy that was infectious. He loved being outside, soaking up the sunshine-though he also had a knack for attracting overly aggressive geese, a battle he fought (and mostly won) more times than he cared to admit.
He had a quiet but sharp sense of humor, the kind that snuck up on you and left you laughing long after the moment had passed. He also had a habit of leaving tiny notes everywhere, written in the smallest script imaginable. Sometimes they were reminders, sometimes they were jokes, and sometimes they were just little messages of love-proof that he was always thinking of those he cared about.
Gary made friends wherever he went. Whether it was a student he met during his time working in a middle school cafeteria, a neighbor, a stranger in line at the store, or someone he met on one of his many outdoor adventures, he had a way of making people both young and old feel seen, valued, and appreciated. To know him was to have a friend for life. He never met a stranger, and he never missed an opportunity to lend a hand, share a laugh, or make someone feel special. But his greatest joy was his family. His love for them was boundless, and nothing made him happier than being surrounded by his children and grandchildren, whom he adored beyond measure. His warmth, kindness, and playful spirit will live on in their hearts forever.
Gary is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Vivian Cassel; his daughters, Rochelle Wentz (Mike) and Lisa Naylor (Roger), his cherished grandchildren, Aubrey Wiechman, Amanda Branfort, Kylee Kolzow, Sam Reals, Hope Witt, Ben Wentz. He is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him great joy. He is reunited in peace with his parents, Ernest and Una Cassel, his sister, Ruth Cassel, and his father and mother-in-law, William and Esther Becker.
There will be a visitation with family on Thursday, February 27th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ryan Mortuary. The celebration of his incredible life will be held on Friday, February 28th at the Salina First United Methodist Church at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to Crossroads Marathon, a local organization that beautifully reflects Gary’s passion for running and his dedication to supporting children or to the Salina First United Methodist Church.
We can all honor his memory by spending time outside in the sunshine, laughing with loved ones, and, if necessary, standing our ground against any particularly bold geese.
He will be deeply missed, and his love and laughter will live on in all who knew him.