Michael "Mike" J. Gants

Michael Joe Gants

Michael Joe Gants, known to his friends and family as Mike and as an unfailingly kind and generous man.  He died in Las Cruces, NM, on April 24, 2024; he was 66.

Mike was born to Wilber and Bernice Gants on May 2, 1957, in San Diego, CA, the second of four children.  The family eventually moved to Renton, Washington where Mike graduated from high school.  While in high school Mike joined the ROTC program then enlisted in the US Marine Corps shortly after graduation. He said he had always wanted to be a Marine like his father. He served for four years, including a posting on Okinawa, and was honorably discharged.

As a young teenager, Mike would travel to Agenda, KS to work on the family farm with his grandfather, Arch Thompson and his uncle Gerald Thompson.  Mike always had fond memories of working on the family farm in Kansas.  In 2020, Mike purchased his mother’s pecan orchard and continued the family farming tradition in Cuchillo, New Mexico.  Brian Thompson’s son, Tanner would come down to the orchard to help Mike just as Mike came to help his grandfather in Kansas.

Most of all, Mike was a wonderful and loving family man, compassionate, giving, kind, and generous.  He was a caring husband, son, stepfather, dog father, brother, and friend.  All who knew Mike grew to love him.

Mike is survived by his wife of 7 years, Amy (Jorgenson/DeWall) Gants, his mother Bernice (Thompson/Gants) Ritch, his step children Aaron and Amanda DeWall, his brother David Gants, sister Jody (Steve) Allen, nephew Jake Allen.  Mike was also survived by his Uncle Gerald (Grace) Thompson and their family Brian (Tammy) Thompson, Lisa (David) Holloway, Julie (Rick) Kesler; his aunt Kreta Thompson and her family Kamala (Keith) Gilbert, Trudy (Charlie) Jones, Shelly (Richard) Debose and Daniel Thompson.

Mike was preceded in death by his wife of 26 years, Marian Gants, his father Wilbur Gants, his sister Susan Gants, his grandparents Arch and Bernice Thompson, his grandparents Wilber and Ethelyn Gants, and his uncle Tommy Thompson.

Mike will be laid to rest at the Agenda Cemetery on September 14, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.  After the burial service in Agenda, there will be a memorial service and potluck dinner at the Cloud County Elevator Assoc. Conference Room in Concordia.

Memorials are suggested to the donor’s favorite animal shelter or may be given to the family.

The family will be conducting the graveside and memorial services.

Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS assisted the family with the arrangements.

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