Gayle Stanek

Gayle J. Stanek, age 65, of Aldrich, Missouri, passed away Monday, March 13, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. Gayle was born on November 22, 1951, in Nappanee, Indiana. She was the youngest of five children born to Melvin and Waneta (Losee) Spicher. Gayle grew up in that area, which had a large Amish presence, so many of her childhood friends were Amish. After moving to Missouri, in 1968, she continued to visit the Local Amish and Mennonite communities. In the summer of 1969 she met Charles Stanek, who had just returned home from the Army. They fell in love and were married on November 14, 1970. Together they had one daughter, Chantell. The family stayed in the area, and have lived on their farm for the past 42 years. Gayle attended college at Drury University, obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She was certified to teach in basic and special education, and started her teaching career in Humansville, but moved to Pleasant Hope Schools in 1991. There she taught third grade for seven years before she began teaching, and running, the Horizons gifted program, where she became very involved with her students. She took many students to Space Camp in Alabama, sponsored the Academic Bowl every year for the Polk County League, served as an officer for several years with the State Gifted Association, was a member of the State Gifted Board, and planned, and participated in, the State Gifted Contest every year. After 26 years of teaching, Gayle retired in 2014. She was an avid New York Yankees fan, and also found joy in collecting things, especially anything she thought pretty. On Sundays, you would find Gayle talking on the phone to Chantell while she watched QVC. Gayle is preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Waneta; a sister, Karen Weaver; and a brother, Gary Spicher. Gayle is survived by her husband, Charles, of the home; daughter, Chantell Stanek, of Las Vegas, Nevada; brothers, Jim Spicher, and his wife Beverly, of Florida, and Merle Spicher, and his wife Evelyn, of Halfway, Missouri; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other family members. A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., on Friday, March 17, 2017 at the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar. A funeral mass will be at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Bolivar, with burial to follow at the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Gayle Stanek Memorial for Jackie Ross ALS Fund at any Central Bank of the Ozarks branch.

Gayle Stanek

November 22, 1951 - March 13, 2017