In Memory Of
Frank Dorsey
1938
2014
Frank Dorsey
April 10, 1938 — February 5, 2014
Rev. Frank Lee Dorsey, 75, of Overland Park, KS passed away Wed. Feb. 5, 2014.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Rural Chaplains Association with "Larisa Malyshko Ministry" in the memo line.
Frank was born during a blizzard on April 10th, 1938 in Ashland, KS to Gabe and Florence Dorsey. The oldest of four children, he spent his formative years on farms and ranches in Kansas and Oklahoma with his siblings, Virginia, Jim and Bill.
He attended high school in Mulvane, KS and went on to college at Friends University in Wichita where he earned a B.A. in Biology. As an undergraduate, he was a college athlete and president of the student council. One of his greatest experiences during these years was traveling to Turkey on a Greek freighter to deliver cattle for Heifer Project.During this trip he felt the call to become a medical missionary.
In his senior year at Friends, he was accepted to KU Medical School and went on to complete one year before deciding to change his plans and enter seminary at St. Paul School of Theology. He and Nancy Jackson, whom he met at Friends during his sophomore year, were married in June of 1961 in Wichita, and he started his ministry in two small Kansas churches, Hartford and Neosho Rapids, while attending St. Paul.
While there, their first two children Mark and Tim were born. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1965 and moved to Madison KS, his first full time charge. In 1968, Frank and Nancy moved to Kansas City, KS to serve Central Avenue United Methodist Church. Frank was instrumental in the civil rights movement and worked with community leaders and groups, such as the Black Panthers, to bridge racial divides.
While at Central Avenue, the couple welcomed two more sons: Matt and Chris. And in 1972, Frank was appointed to Burlington, KS, where the family spent six years. During this time, he also served as director for the New Hope Parish, and became an authority on parish development programs.
Frank was appointed superintendent of the Emporia - Manhattan District on June 1st, 1978. In addition to his ministries, Frank had the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land while he was at Emporia, visiting Israel, Egypt and Jordan. In 1979, Frank and Nancy's fifth child, Beth, was born.
In 1984,after six years as District Superintendent, Frank became the Director of the Conference Council on Ministries for the Kansas East Conference in Topeka, KS. And in 1987, the family moved to Overland Park, KS with Frank's appointment as Senior Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Prairie Village, KS.
In 1998 he was appointed to Centenary UMC part time and also worked part time as Director of Church Development for the Kansas East Conference. After a year, he moved back to Overland Park and was appointed as full time Director of Church Development. He retired in 2004 but stayed active in church organizations for the rest of his life.
In 2003, Frank made his second trip to Russia, accompanied by his son, Chris. Chris and Frank visited rural Russian churches and made lasting connections with the people there.
During his career, Frank served as a Director of the General Board of Church and Society and the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. He was nominated to run for the episcopacy, was a Certified Rural Chaplain, taught in the St. Paul School of Theology Course of Studies and was adjunct faculty on several occasions.
Frank's most recent work included a blog focused on science, environment and religion, www.ToThinkAgain.com. He was active in Wide Is God's Welcome Kansas City and taught classes at Grace United Methodist Church, where he and Nancy also attended services.
One of his biggest goals was to assist Larissa Malyshko, a United Methodist Minister he met on his last trip to Russia. Larissa's story of beating great political and socio-economic odds to create a church in the village of Khokholski was a great inspiration to Frank.
Frank is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy Dorsey; son and daughter-in-law Tim and Trish Dorsey; son and daughter-in-law Matt and Ginny Dorsey; son and daughter-in-law Chris and Lindsy Dorsey; daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Kent Politsch; daughter-in-law Sandy Dorsey; and daughter-in-law Kathy Dorsey; and grandchildren, Eric, Kristin, Gabe, Eli, and Mayah Dorsey.
He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Dorsey.
To leave a special message for the family please click the "share memories" tab above.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Rural Chaplains Association with "Larisa Malyshko Ministry" in the memo line.
Frank was born during a blizzard on April 10th, 1938 in Ashland, KS to Gabe and Florence Dorsey. The oldest of four children, he spent his formative years on farms and ranches in Kansas and Oklahoma with his siblings, Virginia, Jim and Bill.
He attended high school in Mulvane, KS and went on to college at Friends University in Wichita where he earned a B.A. in Biology. As an undergraduate, he was a college athlete and president of the student council. One of his greatest experiences during these years was traveling to Turkey on a Greek freighter to deliver cattle for Heifer Project.During this trip he felt the call to become a medical missionary.
In his senior year at Friends, he was accepted to KU Medical School and went on to complete one year before deciding to change his plans and enter seminary at St. Paul School of Theology. He and Nancy Jackson, whom he met at Friends during his sophomore year, were married in June of 1961 in Wichita, and he started his ministry in two small Kansas churches, Hartford and Neosho Rapids, while attending St. Paul.
While there, their first two children Mark and Tim were born. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1965 and moved to Madison KS, his first full time charge. In 1968, Frank and Nancy moved to Kansas City, KS to serve Central Avenue United Methodist Church. Frank was instrumental in the civil rights movement and worked with community leaders and groups, such as the Black Panthers, to bridge racial divides.
While at Central Avenue, the couple welcomed two more sons: Matt and Chris. And in 1972, Frank was appointed to Burlington, KS, where the family spent six years. During this time, he also served as director for the New Hope Parish, and became an authority on parish development programs.
Frank was appointed superintendent of the Emporia - Manhattan District on June 1st, 1978. In addition to his ministries, Frank had the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land while he was at Emporia, visiting Israel, Egypt and Jordan. In 1979, Frank and Nancy's fifth child, Beth, was born.
In 1984,after six years as District Superintendent, Frank became the Director of the Conference Council on Ministries for the Kansas East Conference in Topeka, KS. And in 1987, the family moved to Overland Park, KS with Frank's appointment as Senior Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Prairie Village, KS.
In 1998 he was appointed to Centenary UMC part time and also worked part time as Director of Church Development for the Kansas East Conference. After a year, he moved back to Overland Park and was appointed as full time Director of Church Development. He retired in 2004 but stayed active in church organizations for the rest of his life.
In 2003, Frank made his second trip to Russia, accompanied by his son, Chris. Chris and Frank visited rural Russian churches and made lasting connections with the people there.
During his career, Frank served as a Director of the General Board of Church and Society and the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. He was nominated to run for the episcopacy, was a Certified Rural Chaplain, taught in the St. Paul School of Theology Course of Studies and was adjunct faculty on several occasions.
Frank's most recent work included a blog focused on science, environment and religion, www.ToThinkAgain.com. He was active in Wide Is God's Welcome Kansas City and taught classes at Grace United Methodist Church, where he and Nancy also attended services.
One of his biggest goals was to assist Larissa Malyshko, a United Methodist Minister he met on his last trip to Russia. Larissa's story of beating great political and socio-economic odds to create a church in the village of Khokholski was a great inspiration to Frank.
Frank is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy Dorsey; son and daughter-in-law Tim and Trish Dorsey; son and daughter-in-law Matt and Ginny Dorsey; son and daughter-in-law Chris and Lindsy Dorsey; daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Kent Politsch; daughter-in-law Sandy Dorsey; and daughter-in-law Kathy Dorsey; and grandchildren, Eric, Kristin, Gabe, Eli, and Mayah Dorsey.
He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Dorsey.
To leave a special message for the family please click the "share memories" tab above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Frank Dorsey, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, February 9, 2014
5:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)
Grace United Methodist Church
Memorial Service
Monday, February 10, 2014
Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)
Grace United Methodist Church
Guestbook
Visits: 2
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