Danny Joe Gambill, 66, of Chetopa, died Sunday, August 27, 2023, doing what he loved, scouting for deer out in the woods at one of his favorite hunting spots outside of Chetopa. Born October 4, 1956, in Parsons, Danny was the son of Joseph and Helen (Brown) Gambill. They preceded him in death.
Danny attended grade school in Parsons and later moved to Chetopa to attend middle school and high school and graduated from Chetopa High School in 1976.
After high school and some college, Danny went on to work for Sonoco as a welder, Diamond Coach and later self-employed as a general contractor.
Danny was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting deer and turkeys and fishing at the Neosho River in Chetopa. When asked about the outdoors, he would often tell his family that it “is the closest thing to heaven that I have ever seen.” When asked about the river, he would often say that it is his “First love and last love.” In addition to outdoors, he also loved spending time with family and friends. He didn’t know a stranger and was always talking about the outdoors and telling jokes to anyone who would listen.
In 1984, he married Barbara Elmore. They later divorced. They had one son, Justin. Danny was later in a relationship with Rhonda (Addis) Anderson for many years. Although they later ended the relationship, he remained supportive of Rhonda’s son, Justin Ventle and his family, Teri Wylie and daughter, Jenaka.
Danny is survived by his son, Justin Gambill (wife, Noelle), of Tulsa, Okla.; three grandchildren, Jenaka Ventle of Chetopa; Makai and Liam Gambill of Tulsa, Okla. His sister Mary Johnson (husband, Clark) and their children Tammy and Cody of Oklahoma; -cousin, Bill Kelley of St. Charles, Mo.; Justin Ventle and Teri Wylie, of Chetopa also survive.
There will be a visitation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, September16 at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. The memorial service will begin at 11 a.m., immediately following the visitation.