Gene P. Chrisler

Gene P. Chrisler, 85, of Natoma, Kansas, passed away Saturday, October 18, 2025 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Gene was born May 12, 1940 in Hays, Kansas. He was one of five children to H. Donald and Leona (Jantzen) Chrisler. He grew up on the Saline River west of Fairport, Kansas. He graduated from Natoma High School.

Gene met, fell in love, and was united in marriage to Dorene Reich on September 6, 1959 in Russell. This union was blessed with three children; Teresa, Andrea and Anthony. They made their home west of Natoma for three years before moving to the farm south of Natoma.

Gene was a Rancher and Farmer most all of his life. He took great pride in raising horned Hereford and Angus cattle and Poco Bueno bred cow horses and strived to be a steward of the land for the livestock and wildlife. He enjoyed collecting western memorabilia, guns, and knives. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his livestock. A school board member for Natoma and then the joint Natoma, Paradise, Waldo School District, Gene worked hard to ensure area families would have a quality education, including all his grandchildren. He was a long time AQHA member and a member of the Russell Masonic Lodge and Isis Shrine.

Gene’s surviving family include his wife of 66 years, Dorene of the home; daughters, Teresa Reimer (Jim) of Paradise, Kansas and Andrea Chambray (David) of Natoma, Kansas; son, Anthony Chrisler (Melissa) of Natoma, Kansas; nine grandchildren, Clint Griffin, Dodge City, Kansas, Benjamin Griffin (Janine), Hays, Kansas, Lincoln Griffin (Alisha) Waxahachie, Texas, Riley Chrisler (Adreinne), Natoma, Kansas, Jacob Chambray (Fernanda), Hays, Kansas, Kayley Marcin (Mack) Cherry Creek, New York, Doran Griffin (Ciaralyn), Platte City, Missouri, Hannah Chambray (Weston Sommers) Hutchinson, Kansas, Carley Chrisler (Kyler Smith), Salina, Kansas: four step-grandchildren, Jessica Roberts (Darren), Shields, Kansas, Jacob Reimer (Ashlyn) Smithville, Missouri, Janelyn Nichols, (Jared), Dodge City, Kanas, Juliette Cain (Champ), Stillwater, Oklahoma; and seven great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Eldon Chrisler, Delmar Chrisler and Ralph Chrisler; and sister, Ellen Ruth Strang.

Celebration of Gene’s life will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, October 27, 2025 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday at the Fairport Cemetery in Fairport, Kansas. The family will be present to greet friends on the day of the service starting at 9:30 AM at the mortuary. Condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.