Marianne (Rouse) Gansel passed away at the Dawson Place Nursing Home, Hill City, July 15, 2026, at the age of 93. She was born August 8, 1932, to O.G. and Ruth (Putnam) Rouse, in Russell, Kansas.
Marianne attended Fort Hays Kansas State College where she met her future husband. She married the true love of her life, Bert Gansel, in the middle of a major snowstorm, November 26, 1952. Bert and Marianne were married for over 71 years.
Family was Marianne's pride and joy, and time spent with her family was her favorite. Her most treasured place to spend time was Colorado, and Bert and Marianne owned a cabin in Woodland Park for almost 50 years. Many memories were made in Colorado; the entire family developed a similar love for the state.
Marianne was a caregiver for her family. Without fail, she cooked three meals a day for Bert. She worked as a secretary at the middle school and then as a bookkeeper at Money's Chevrolet. As her mother aged and needed more care, Marianne made the decision to stop working outside the home to tend to the grandma of her kids.
Volunteering and service to others also played a big part in Marianne's life. She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church, being part of the women's group that organized funeral dinners, and she belonged to the hospital auxiliary. In addition, she drove patients to Hays for cancer treatments and delivered Meals on Wheels. She was a leader for both the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts when her kids were young.
Marianne was preceded in death by her husband, Bert. Survivors include her children: Greg (deceased wife Debbie), Hill City; Jeff (wife Sheryl), Salina; and Jean Morris (husband Craig), Wimberley, Texas.
Her grandchildren are Michelle Billips (husband Brett), Hill City; Michael Horton (wife Jessica), Hill City; Amanda Aulbach (husband Matt), Kyle, Texas; and Nolan Morris (wife Ili), Wimberley, Texas.
Her great grandchildren are Gabi Bryant (husband Wyatt), Great Bend; Gracie Billips, Garrett Billips, and Greeley Billips, all of Hill City; Halle Morris, Wendell Morris, and Remy Morris, all of Wimberley, Texas; Declan Aulbach and Annie Aulbach, both of Kyle, Texas; and Raif Horton, Hill City. Great-great grandchildren are Saige and Kollyns Bryant, both of Great Bend.
Marianne was also preceded in death by her siblings, brother Gene (wife Gwen) and sister Ladene (husband Richard).
A celebration of Marianne's life will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, August 10, 2026 at the Stinemetz Funeral Home,522 North Pomeroy, Hill City, Kansas 67642.
Memorials are suggested to The Graham County Library, in care of Stinemetz Funeral Home.