Gale “Butch” Owen Gakle, 61, of Holton, KS, passed away Friday, October 29, 2021 at Stormont Vail Hospital. He was born February 16, 1960 in Long Beach, CA, the son of Gale E. and Erma Marie (Johnson) Gakle.

Gale graduated from Excelsior Springs High School in 1978. After moving to Holton, he worked for Boyd Construction for a few years. Realizing Holton Police Department was in need of a dispatcher, Gale began working for them in 1980.  He graduated from KLETC (Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center), beginning his 40 years at the department. Gale retired on March 5, 2021 as Police Chief.

He was a member of Holton Fire Department, Holton Rotary and Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police. He took pride in helping the local children with the G.R.E.A.T program at Holton and Jackson Heights schools and assisting with the Sheriffs Day Camp.

Gale married Lorene “Lori” Ann Moser on June 9, 2001 in Holton. Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Lori Gakle of the home; 6 children, Nathaen Wessel (fiancé, Susan Wires) of Topeka, KS, Allysa Dawn Smith (husband, Scott) of Lincoln, NE, Matthew E. Gakle, of Auburn, KS, Dalton M. Gakle (girlfriend, Kayla Hutzell) of Wakarusa, KS, Jennifer L. Scheid (husband, Chris Busch) of Topeka, KS and Ben A. Scheid (wife, Tamra) of Topeka, KS; sister, Betty “B.J.” Rokey (husband,Gary) of Sabetha, KS; 15 grandchildren; 2 nephews, Christopher Rokey of Topeka, KS, and Wade Rokey of Sabetha,KS, and a niece, Nichole Rokey of Topeka, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gale and Erma Gakle; sister, Gaylene L. Gakle and a brother, Roger A. Gakle.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 4, 2021 at the Evangel United Methodist Church in Holton. Burial and Last Call will follow at the Holton Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Gale will lie in state Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday until visitation time.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Gale Gakle Memorial Fund (to be designated at a later date) c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.