Edgar Curtis (Jack) Gamble, of Hiawatha, died early Monday morning August 24, 2015, at the Hiawatha Community Hospital at the age of 84, from a sudden onset of acute leukemia.

He was born April 8, 1931, at the family farm in rural Robinson, Kansas, to Ross and Pearl (Brooks) Gamble. He attended school at Mt. Roy and was a member of the Hiawatha Bethel AME Church where he was baptized at the age of twelve.

In November 1952, he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War in the 34th Infantry part of the 24th Division. He attained the rank of Corporal and drove the jeep for the commanding officers, drawing constant sniper fire as the snipers strategically targeted the vehicles of commanding officers. He received a Korean Service Medal W/1 Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and a Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1954.

He was united in marriage on July 7, 1956, to Rowena Elizabeth Dixon in Troy, Kansas. To this union was born three children: Curtis, Jacqueline (Jackie) and Michaelle.

He worked at the Foundry in Atchison, KS, the Armour Packing House in St. Joseph, MO., and the Egg Plant in Hiawatha before joining his brother Dale in the Gamble Brother’s Tree Service. Dale soon returned to farming and Jack remained in the tree business and renamed it to Gamble’s Tree Service which was established around 1957. Over the ensuing 58 years, Gamble’s Tree Service grew to be not only the most prominent black-owned business but the most renowned and largest tree service in NE Kansas and SE Nebraska. In 1968, he and his wife Rowena opened Gamble’s Nursery which became Gamble’s Nursery and Garden Center in 1971. Services included tree topping, trimming, tree & stump removal, tree transplanting, spraying, landscaping and retail sales.

In December of 1983, Jack, Rowena and youngest daughter Michaelle, were blessed to travel to the Holy lands with a Christian group from NE Kansas. Edgar was a 32nd degree Mason and was a member of the Masonic Lodge in St. Joseph, MO. He was also a member of the Tes Trams Club in St. Joseph, MO. His favorite hobbies included: going behind his children turning off the lights in the house, cruising around Hiawatha and being amazed about how much things cost now days!

He was preceded in death by his wife Rowena, parents Ross and Pearl Gamble, 3 sisters: Edith Duncan, Louise Ross and Thelma Duncan, 3 brothers: James, Dale and Ray.

He is survived by his children: Curtis (Jeanne) Gamble of Livermore, California; Jacqueline Dodson RN of Topeka, KS and Michaelle Gamble of Overland Park, KS., five grandchildren: Christopher (Sarah) Dodson of Lenexa, KS, Phillip (April) Dodson of Topeka, KS, Christi (Daniel) Gentry of Lanett, Alabama, Kathryn (Dedrick) Weathersby of Concord, California and Jonathan Gamble of Livermore, California, three great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law Phyllis Gamble of Hiawatha, KS and a host of nieces and nephews…..

A celebration of Jack’s life is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, August 29, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha. Regina Stillman and Tom Stone will officiate. Interment will follow at Hiawatha Cemetery, military honors a courtesy of the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m. Friday where the family will meet from 6 until 8 that evening.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Jack Gamble Memorial Fund which may be left in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., 66434. A special message may be sent to www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com