Christopher Gerstner

Christopher James Gerstner passed away at his home in Colby, Kansas on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at the age of 64. He was born in Colby, Kansas on March 14, 1958, the fifth of eight children of Alfred and Kathryn (Kit) Gerstner. After graduating from Colby High School in the spring of 1976, he attended Colby Community College, as he put it, majoring in baseball. He worked for A. F. Dible, Colby and Gigot farms of Garden City pursuing a farming occupation. On April 19, 1986 in Colby, Kansas, he married the love of his life Diann Tucker. They continued to live in Colby where they raised their four children. An ice storm December 2, 1986 and an early morning phone call from his father, Great Plains Electric manager, started his 27 year electrical lineman career. Chris loved the work, even being nicknamed for awhile “Smiley” because he always had a smile on his face. He worked with a crew that he would put up against any other crew in the world, saying they could do the work faster and better. Then in 2011 he had the honor of becoming the Midwest Energy Electric manager for 7 years before retiring due to the toll of cancer treatment. The men working under him were always “his” and he worried about their safety at all times, always reminding them to “Be safe out there.”

Woodworking and sheet rocking was Chris’ other love. His love for this type of work led to owning rentals and even flipping one house. His woodworking shop was his pride and joy.

Chris greatly enjoyed the Kansas Jaycee organization, making many friends and enjoying the community service projects. The Redrum Haunted House was a favorite project getting to use his carpentry skills.

Chris was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Diann Gerstner of Colby, children: Christy Gerstner (Kelly Kenmitz), of Wichita, KS, Kelly Gerstner (David Wichman) of Arlington, VA, Kimberly (Grant) Mercer, of Rochester, MI, and Tucker Gerstner of Hutchinson, KS; one grandchild, Cambri Dietz of Wichita, KS; siblings: Linda Stockman of Colby, KS, Cindy (Dane) Cutting of Chandler, AZ, Carol Diane Gerstner of Colby, KS, Ann (Cary) Siemsen of Colby, KS, Rex (Michael Graham) Gerstner of Dallas, TX, Laura (Duke Schiefelbein) Mueller of Derby, KS, and Melissa (Robert) Haberkorn of Beaufort, SC.

Cremation was chosen. Family will receive friends 5:00-7:00pm, Monday, January 2, 2023 at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Memorial Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at the Colby United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the Foundation for Hope or the CHS Ag Ed and Tech Center and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com