Gail Roquet, Jr., 94, of Topeka, Kansas, died Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Gail was born December 16, 1928, in Beloit, Kansas, to Gail B. and Ruth (Wooster) Roquet. He attended Rogers Elementary School, graduated Beloit High School in 1947 and was an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. Gail attended the University of Kansas for one year and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1952. He was stationed at San Diego Naval Training Center, San Diego, California; Moffett Air Field, San Jose,
California; Norfolk Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia; and Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he worked with his father in farming and oil. He moved to Salina, Kansas, in 1953 and purchased a Mobil Oil service station.
In June of 1954 he married Shirley Jo Kenworthy. To this union two children were born - Kathryn Kay and David Kenworthy Roquet. Gail and Jo later divorced.
Starting in 1970 he was employed in the insurance business, Farmland Insurance and Old Northwest Agency in Marysville, Kansas. He later moved to Topeka, Kansas, and opened his own Independent Agency, Roquet Insurance Agency, which he operated with his son. Gail retired in 2022.
He married Rose Bates on May 22, 1993.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, brother-in-law, mother-in-law and step-son-in-law.
He is survived by his wife, Rose; daughter, Kathryn (Mike) White of Salina; son, David Roquet of Topeka; granddaughters, Abigail (Cody) Strawder of Navarre, Ohio, and Melissa Marietta (JP Centeno) of Boulder, Colorado; grandson, Andrew White of Salina, Kansas; great-grandsons, Beckem, Ledger and Hudson White, Santiago and Mattias Centeno, and Tyler Strawder; great granddaughter, Mallory Strawder; step-daughters, Michelle Riddle of Kearney, Missouri, Melodie Brunson of Sugar Creek, Missouri; several step-grandchildren and great grandchildren; niece, Gayle Fedele of North Branford, Connecticut; and nephew, Chris (Christy) Keledjian of Venice, California.
Gail donated his body to the University of Kansas Medical Center. A memorial service will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 28, 2023, at Dove Cremations, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, Kansas, 66610. A private family burial will take place later in Beloit, Kansas.