Gail L. Applebee

Gail Leroy Applebee was born on June 15, 1916 in the Athens Township in Jewell County, Kansas, the son of Otis Franklin and Etta May Calder Applebee. He died Thursday, January 12, 2006 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit at the age of 89 years.
Gail grew up and attended Athens School before graduating from Athens High School in 1934. Following graduation, he took Normal Training, and taught one student his first year. He served in the US Army in the 50th General Hospital division in the European Theatre of World War II. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1951 and his master's degree in 1954 at Fort Hays State University.
On July 11, 1942, he was united in marriage to Olive Dietz in Colorado Springs. Three children were born to this union. They were privileged to spend more than 46 years of marriage together until her death in December of 1986. He was married to Julia Zadina Dean on August 8, 1992.
Gail served as a teacher, coach, and principal for 36 ½ years before retiring as principal at Beloit Elementary School in 1981.
He was very active in many organizations throughout his life. He was a lifelong member and past president of the Beloit Rotary Club, past president of the Educator's Club Branch of USA, past president and board member of the Ft. Hays State University Alumni Board, advisory board chairman of the Mitchell County Health Department, chairman of the Mitchell County Council on Aging, board member of the Directors of the Area Agency on Aging, two years as a Silver Hair Legislator, advisory board member of the NCKAVTS nursing program, financial secretary of the UMC, was an educational advocate for the girls at the Beloit Youth Center, member of the Kansas Association of Elementary Principals, National Association of Elementary Principals, Mitchell County Association for Retarded Citizens, local, national, and international Reading Association, was Employer of the Year at the NCKAVTS business department, Distinguished Service Award from the Young Men's Association of Beloit, initiated an Alzheimer's Support Group for caregivers, initiated the Beloit Rotary Girls Softball program, coached the Banner Burger Bar women's softball team, was a lifetime member of the Beloit United Methodist Church, is a member of the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame, and still had time to enjoy his bowling.
In addition to his first wife, Olive, he was preceded in death by his parents.
Gail is survived by his wife, Julia of the home; one son, Monty of Salina; two daughters, Tamra Strano and her husband Bob of Leavenworth, and Rhonda Clark and her husband Larry of Valley Center; one step-son, Gary Dean and his wife Jean of Hays; one step-daughter, Marie Jenkins of Leucadia, California; one sister, Maxine Porter of Salina; six grandchildren, Cory and Joel Applebee, Jodi Kizzee, Mandy Courville, and Brandon and Blaine Clark; three great grandchildren, Colin and Haden Applebee, and Javan Kizzee; four step-grandchildren; five step-great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be at 10:30 AM Monday, January 16, at the Beloit United Methodist Church with burial in Elmwood Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Saturday and 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Sunday at the McDonald Funeral Home in Beloit.