Gregory Sheldon Bunyan “Greg”

Gregory Sheldon Bunyan “Greg”, age 78, passed away Thursday evening, April 15, 2021, at the Ascension Via Christi St Francis Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas.

He was born on June 3, 1942, at the Good Samaritan Presbyterian Hospital in Inglewood, California during a blackout for a suspected raid of Los Angeles by the Japanese. He was the son of William Price Bunyan II “JR” and Loraine Gertrude (Gregory) Bunyan.

As a young boy he lived just blocks from the beach in Inglewood, California near where LAX is located today. He enjoyed many a day swimming on the California beaches. He was baptized at the Presbyterian Church in Inglewood, California. In the summer of 1949 Greg, his parents and his older brother Bill moved to Fowler, Kansas where his grandfather William Price Bunyan I had homesteaded in 1884. Growing up, he lived in town and on the family farm. He attended Sunday school at the Fowler United Methodist Church. He attended the old Fowler Elementary School and the new Fowler High School, graduating in 1960. During high school he excelled in track & field. During this time he competed in the Junior Olympics @ Fort Hays State University. Greg joined the Army at the age of 17. After graduation he spent 6 months for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and advanced infantry training at Camp Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He was assigned to the Army Reserve unit in Dodge City, Kansas, training in the summers at Fort Ripley, Minnesota, Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Riley, Kansas. Greg attended the University of Kansas where he was on the Track & Field team, throwing the javelin 221 feet. He was also a walk-on the KU Football team and was a teammate of Gale Sayers. He left KU in 1962 to run the family farm at Fowler in a partnership with his father and brother. Later in a partnership with just his brother until 1981, and then solely managed the farm as Lazy W Bar Ranch.

On December 26, 1963, he married Jane Marie Finkeldei in Cimarron, Kansas. They resided in Fowler and then later made their home on the farm north of Fowler. They had two daughters, Lory Ann and Sara Jane. They later divorced in 1980. He then married Marcella Finke for a short time. Later, in September 1988, he married Debra Hayden. They lived on the farm with her daughter, Brandi Dawn, who he lovingly adopted. They had a daughter, Mikalea Nicole. Then they divorced in 1998.

He was a member of the Fowler American Legion Post, the Fowler JC Chapter where he served once as President, and competed on a bowling team in Meade, Kansas. Greg loved playing cards, shooting pool, fishing, had a love for all animals and wildlife, and had a passion for raising Thoroughbred race horses which he sent off to train and race in many areas of the country.

He is survived by his children. A daughter Lory Finke and husband Brian of Fowler, Kansas, daughter Sara Hayes and husband David of Fowler, Kansas, daughter Mikalea Bunyan and husband Louis of Park City, Kansas, daughter Brandi Bunyan of Wichita, Kansas; one brother William Price Bunyan III “Bill” and wife Susan of Dodge City, Kansas; nine grandchildren Nick, Madison, Cody, Jonathon (Sara), Jaiden, JaKobe, JaVion, Jett, Leya (Brandi); six great-grandchildren Jayden, Easton, Adelyn (Nick) Ellie, Cash, Emma (Cody).

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 pm Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at the Fowler United Methodist Church, Fowler, Kansas. Burial will take place at the Fowler Cemetery.

The family would welcome memorials to the Ford County Humane Society or the Pet Miracle Rescue Network, Dodge City in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.

Personal condolences may be given to the family at www.fidlerormebachmanmortuary.com