Pearl Mae Ganstrom, age 90, left this life for her eternal home on January 2, 2019, at Cloud County Health Center, Concordia. She was born May 14, 1928, in Concordia, Kansas to Carl and Edith (Olson) Johnson. She and her twin brother, Earl Rae, were the youngest of five children.
Pearl attended Concordia schools and graduated from Concordia High School in 1946. She married Gene Ganstrom on August 23, 1951, at The Baptist Church in Concordia, Kansas and they have lived in the community their entire lives. After her children were in high school, Pearl worked for Dr. Stan Christensen as a dental assistant for 22 years.
Pearl was active in The Baptist Church from the time of her birth. In her adult life she was a deaconess, taught children's Sunday school classes, was very involved in ABW, and prepared the communion bread for many years. She was especially known in the church and community for her delicious pies.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Gene, her son, Sheldon (Linda) Ganstrom of Hays, daughter, Kathryn (Doug) Herman of Concordia and her brother Earl Johnson of Junction City. Pearl is also survived by five grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. They are Landen (Danielle) Ganstrom of Charleston, SC and daughters Lilli and Luna; Tiara (Ryan) Gottschalk of Hays and children Lexi, Katelyn and Nolan; Jenny (Shawn) Sullivan of Topeka, KS and children Drew, Grace, Brooke and Claire; Alissa (Ben) Smith of Olathe, KS and children Gavin, Ella and Liam; and Russell (Ashley) Herman of Haysville, KS and children Brianna, Kyren, Taegan, Raegan, Rylee, Treysen, Tyus and Tobin.
Pearl was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mabel (Stanley) Ostrom, her brother Paul (Faith) Johnson, her brother Carl Jr. (Therese) Johnson, and her sister-in-law Goldie Johnson.
Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Friday, January 4th at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, with the family greeting friends from 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM. A celebration of life service will be held at The Baptist Church in Concordia at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 5th, 2019 with Pastor Jonathan Peppers officiating. A private, family burial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery will precede the funeral. Memorial contributions may be made to The Baptist Church of Concordia and left in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.