Gene Ray Waisner

Graveside Services for Gene Ray Waisner, 77, Eudora KS, will be held on Monday, January 3, 2022, 1:00 p.m. at Clinton Cemetery, Clinton KS. Gene passed on December 28, 2021 at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, KS.

Gene was born February 19, 1944 in Sedalia Missouri to George Roe, and Luella Lorraine (Neffendorf) Waisner. He was the oldest son of their five children.

In his early years, Gene enjoyed Square Dancing and was active in FFA. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1962. Shortly after graduation, while working on a construction site with his cousin Rod Culley in Moberly Missouri, Gene began learning how to Survey. Thus began his lifelong passion and trade. Shortly after enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1965, Gene served in 1966 and 1967 in the Navy Construction Battalion #5 surveying in the Danang region in Vietnam and received a Bronze Star. Upon his return from the Vietnam War, he continued honing his surveying skills, receiving from the State of Kansas Board of Engineering Examiners his Registered Land Surveyor certificate on Feb. 3, 1970. During his years as a Surveyor, he was delighted to be involved in some of the biggest surveying projects in the State of Kansas including survey work on the State of Kansas Capitol.

Gene married Taunya S. Powell (Div.) They had two sons Darren and Devin.

On March 15, 1985 Gene married his soul mate Bonita “Bonnie” Louise (Perry) Sato, and his family grew by two step sons Brian Sato and Richard Sato.

Gene liked spending time outside, enjoying Pheasant hunting with his dad and brothers in Western Kansas, Duck hunting, and Fishing. Gene loved racing, when his son’s Darren and Devin were young, he built and maintained their quarter midget cars. Later, Gene along with wife Bonnie enjoyed indoor dirt track RC Racing in Topeka KS inviting their children to join them and happily sharing their cars and Bonnie’s delicious homemade Chili. Gene enjoyed attending the Chili Bowl races in Tulsa, OK annually with family and friends. Gene was a member of the Topeka Treasure Hunters Club, he enjoyed hunting and showing friends and family found “treasures”. He had a true gift of the ability to make most anything he thought of using his wood working skills. He had a talent and true enjoyment of small engine repair. He happily helped family, friends, and neighbors with their repairs.

Gene was helpful, kind hearted, and made friends wherever he went.

He is survived by his family:
son, Darren Waisner & wife, Fitsame, children, Eric & Isabelle of Lawrence, KS.
son, Devin Waisner & wife Amy, of Edna, KS. children, Zoe Waisner of Pittsburg, KS. Bronte’ (Waisner) Baze & husband, Bradley stationed in S. Korea
son, Brian Sato, children, Jaron Sato, Sara (Sato) Ozuna & husband, Josh
son, Richard Sato & wife Mindi, children, Alyssa, Austin & Branden of Panama City, FL.
brother, John Waisner of Eudora KS, sisters, Irene Wissler & husband, John of Lawrence KS, Barbara Rollins of Lawrence KS, and sister-in-law, Carol Waisner of Lawrence KS.
four great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Bonita Waisner Dec. 7, 2002. father, George Roe Waisner May 11, 2003. mother, Luellla Lorraine Waisner Aug. 15, 2011 and brother, Earl Wayne Waisner May 15, 2020.

Memorial Contributions may be made in Gene’s name to LMH Oncology Center or the American Cancer Society and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.