SHIPMAN, Gale M. - b. February 15, 1952 - d. July 1, 2021

[patyrn]

Gale M. Shipman was born on February 15, 1952 in Winfield, Kansas, the son of Millard and Lora Marie (Park) Shipman.  He passed away on July 1, 2021 at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.

Gale grew up in Howard, Kansas and graduated from Howard High School in 1970.  He attended both Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University where he was a member of ROTC.  He was united in marriage to Dorothy Penner on May 20, 1975 in Emporia, Kansas.

Gale worked as the head zookeeper at the David Traylor Zoo in Emporia and worked there for over 18 years caring for their animals.  He was instrumental in establishing the Jones Park Disc Golf Course in Emporia through his work in the city Parks Department.  He had many hobbies including stained glass making, being an aquarium hobbyist, RC airplane modeler, and recently a video gamer. Gale had a great love for both Disneyworld and Disneyland, even going as far as interviewing for a zoo position at Disney's Animal Kingdom in its earliest days.  He was an animal caregiver at heart and certainly enjoyed smoking his cigars.

Gale is survived by his wife of 46 years, Dorothy Shipman of Marion, Kansas; his brother, Ronnie (Connie) Shipman of Marion, Kansas; his sister, Pam (Martin) Sharp of Wichita, Kansas; and his nieces and nephews, Paul (Lori) Shipman, Lenn (Andi) Shipman, Brett (Angela) Sharp, and Chad Sharp.  He was preceded in death by his parents.  In lieu of a memorial service, the family requests memorial contributions to the Animal Health Center of Marion County in care of  Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, P.O.Box 96, Marion, Kansas 66861 which has been entrusted with arrangements.  Condolences may be left for the family online at www.ymzfh.com.

(taken from the Yazel-Megli Funeral Home website)