A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Gerald D. (Tuffy) Rounsley
Smith County Pioneer, 2 Sep 2004 (obtained from Find A Grave, listing for Gerald D. "Tuffy" Rounsley):
Gerald D. "Tuffy" Rounsley, 76, died Aug. 23, 2004. He had cancer. He was born July 7, 1928, on a farm northwest of Smith Center, the second son of Frederick A. and Maebelle (Tuxhorn) Rounsley.
..He was preceded in death by his father in 1963 and his mother in 1990.
..As an infant, Gerald was seriously ill and not expected to live through the night. A neighbor caring for him was present when his fever broke and commented he was a "tough" little guy. That's how he got his nickname. Gerald graduated from the Black Eagle grade school and attended the Thornburg Church as a youth.
..Gerald and Virginia Lee Panter of Athol were married June 21, 1947 in Norton. They had three daughters, Carolyn Karen, and Ginger. They shared 57 yers of marriage, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with their daughters and families in Las Vegas, Nev.
..Gerald enjoyed the family farm in the Reamsville area. He raised cattle, had a small dairy, and farmed until 1969. He also did master carpentry work throughout his life in Smith County and in the Boulder, Colo., area. He was a member of the Colorado Carpenters and Millwrights Union in Denver.
..In 1980, he joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department in Golden, Colo., and retired in 1991. After retirement, he and Virginia relocated in Wichita in 1994, where Gerald continued woodworking and general carpentry in the Wichita area.
..Gerald enjoyed meeting family and friends at Wal-Mart for coffee and doughnuts three days a week. He also enjoyed gardening and traveling in the Western states. He was a sportsman who enjoyed the land and its animals, fishing, elk hunting, and camping in the Colorado wilderness.
..The survivors include his wife, Virginia of the home; daughters, Carolyn Hatfield and husband Nick of Littleton, Colo., Karen (Rounsley) Zurawski and husband Ron of Cameron Park, Calif., and Ginger (Rounsley) Herman and husband Jim of Wichita; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, Nicholas Hatfield and wife Christine and their daughter Cate of Castle Rock, Colo.; Christopher, Tucker, and Elizabeth Zurawski of Cameron Park; Nicole Warren, Marc Rounsley, Natalie Rounsley, and Nathaniel Ash, all of Wichita.
..Also surviving are his brothers, L. Vern Rounsley and Harriet of Centralia, Wash., Gary Rounsley and wife Mildred of Smith Center; brother-in-law, Donald Panter and wife Detta of Athol; and sister-in-law, Lelia Lentz of Derby.
..Memorial services were conducted Aug. 26th at the family home in Wichita with Pastor Curtis Fike of Odyssey Hospice officiating. A private graveside sunset service was conducted Aug. 28th at Myers Cemetery, Athol, officiated by Pastor Dale McCain of the United Church of Christ.
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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