GAYLEN ROY SPRECKER, age 67, passed away in
Christ, November 25, 2011 at his home in Olathe, KS after a four month fight with cancer. Visitation will be held on Monday, November 28 from 6:00-8:00pm at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 14275 S Blackbob Rd, Olathe, followed by funeral services on Tuesday, November 29 at 10:30am at Colonial Presbyterian Church, 12501 W. 137th Street, Overland Park, KS. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, November 30 at 1:30pm at Leonardville United Methodist Cemetery in Leonardville, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to Camp Carol Joy Holling, in care of Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, 27416 Ranch Rd, Ashland, NE 68003.
Gaylen was born on September 16th, 1944, in Clay Center, KS, to Wilbur and Grace (Larson) Sprecker. He grew up outside of Manhattan, KS, on the family farm and graduated from Manhattan High School.
Gaylen married Diana Regier in 1965 while obtaining his bachelor's degree in accounting from Kansas State University. After graduation, they moved to the Kansas City area where Gaylen worked as an auditor and then moved to manufacturing. He worked at Broderson Manufacturing Corporation the last 38 years of his career, the majority of time as President and CEO.
Together, Gaylen and Diana have five children and nine grandchildren. He cherished spending time with them, swimming in the pool, having church youth groups over to the house, playing golf, and attending the Masters golf tournament. He particularly enjoyed working on cars, finances, taxes, and investments.
Gaylen loved the Lord and lived his life according to God's word. He became a Christian at the age of ten by receiving Jesus as his Savior. Every morning, he read his Bible and prayed for his family and the company. His best qualities were honesty, integrity, teaching, respectfulness, and hugging – no one was a stranger to him.
He is survived by his wife Diana, his five children: Gay (David) Rush of Blair, NE, Timothy (Janet) Sprecker of Derby, KS, David (Gail) Sprecker of Olathe, KS, Melanie (Eric) Blake of St. Cloud, MN, Mark (Stacey) Sprecker of Shawnee, KS, and their eight grandchildren. Gaylen was preceded in death by his parents Wilbur and Grace Sprecker, infant brother Thane Sprecker, and infant granddaughter Grace Rush.