Michael Warren Ganson

Michael Warren Ganson, 79, passed from this earth on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the University of Kansas Medical Center from an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia. He was surrounded by his loving family as he quietly and peacefully transitioned.

Michael’s Celebration of Life will be Saturday, November 16th, 2 p.m.- 4 p.m., at Reynolds Lodge at Lake Shawnee in Topeka. Michael wanted a simple, casual, and friendly gathering of his loved ones. He valued nothing more than a good chat with those he treasured.

Michael was born on December 11, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York., where his father was stationed as WWII was winding down. Michael was the son of Elton Laverne Ganson and Genevieve Martina Haffener Ganson.

Shortly after the war ended, Michael’s family moved to McPherson, Kansas. Michael had many fond memories of small town life in McPherson, where he could bicycle all over town, buy penny candy at an early convenience store, and run back and forth day and night between yards where his friends lived.

A story Michael would often tell that occurred during those early years involved a Chrysler with “suicide doors,” doors that hinged in the back of the door instead of the front. Michael was about three years old, and his mom was taking him to Texas to visit relatives. As they headed down the highway at 60 mph, Michael tried to steady himself in the backseat by grabbing the door handle. The door flew open and launched Michael right out onto a grassy area! Michael said he had no memory of the incident, but it left him with a permanent reminder—a broken little finger that healed crookedly.

When Michael was in the fourth grade, mental illness became a part of his mother’s life. After a time, his mother and father divorced. Michael stayed with various aunts and uncles and their children during that period, which fostered a strong bond with both sides of the family. His mother’s mental illness led to difficulties in her employment, so Michael was moved to various towns and places to live, which included changing schools frequently. Michael always said, however, that throughout all of his mom’s difficulties, he always knew that she adored him and did her very best for him.

It was during this time that Michael spent summers and sometimes other parts of the year with his Aunt Selma and Uncle Jack and their children on the family homestead farm outside Alta Vista. He also stayed with his Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Mill and their children at their nearby farm. He often played with his Uncle Ted’s and Aunt Thera’s children in Manhattan. Michael, an only child, grew close to his cousins and always considered them his siblings. He never stopped appreciating their kindness to him as they accepted him as a part of their families.

Eventually, Michael and his mom moved to Topeka, where he attended Crane Junior High and then Topeka High School. He also became versed in more than one religion since his mom bounced from church to church. Michael was exposed to a variety of educational teaching styles and religious precepts, broadening his viewpoint, especially of various religious similarities and differences. Michael was a spiritual man who had his own faith base which was developed from an amalgamation of all of his religious exposures.

When Michael graduated in 1962 from Topeka High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, service of which he was proud and which also generated many entertaining stories. He was assigned as an electrician to three different submarines while in the Navy: the USS Seadragon, a nuclear fast attack submarine based out of Pearl Harbor, the USS Gudgeon, a diesel submarine which Michael termed a “lemon,” and finally the USS Greenfish, another diesel sub.

It was during his stint on the Seadragon that Michael received a “Dear John” letter from his high school sweetheart. He funneled his angst into body building, which resulted in a “six pack” and arms too muscular to raise over his head. Michael said that was when he was in the best shape of his life! One of the benefits of his Navy life was being stationed in Hawaii with his buddy, Tom Hall, with whom he had many motorcycle rides and other adventures in their off time. Springing from those adventures, Tom became Michael’s close, lifelong friend.

In 1968, Michael married Michelle Montague, and they had two children, Diana Lynn and Eric Christopher.

The Topeka Fire Department became Michael’s primary career, from the early 70’s until 2003. At the TFD, he was a firefighter, a Fire Investigator, a Fire Inspector, and he retired as Chief of Administration. The latter three positions perfectly suited Michael’s attention to detail and persistence in problem solving.

Before and after his Navy years, Michael held several jobs and gained a wide breadth of experience. Just a partial list includes delivering newspapers as a boy, being a car runner at a Chevrolet dealer, working in the Stormont-Vail dietary department, an assembler at Seymour Foods, a marble and granite installer, maintaining Coke vending machines at businesses, owning a gas station/car repair shop, serving as a driver for a funeral home, working for a pest control company, and even having a housecleaning business for a short time. He spent two years as a deputy at the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office before joining the TFD. He was a part time (excellent!) massage therapist for 15+ years. Michael was a man of many talents!

Michael also had a variety of avocations. He rehabbed houses and could be found doing just about anything tool, engine, or car related. Michael possessed a broad knowledge of car makes and models, owned many cars over his lifetime, remembered every one of them, and had a strong interest in antique tractor makes and models. His point of reference to refer to any event in his life was, “when I had such and such a car…”

In 2007, Michael and his wife Nancy were married. They enjoyed just being together, visiting close relatives or friends, going on fall leaf viewing or spring redbud tree drives, having pie in small town cafes, going for walks in the Ted Ensley Gardens, watching their favorite TV shows, and eating good food! The simple life suited them.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Ganson (Nolder), daughter, Alexis (Josh Opperman) Rowe, son, Eric (Erica) Ganson, previous wife, Michelle Montague (Larry Leach) Ganson, and grandchildren, Adam (Jenna) Spurling, Shawn (Anwyn) Spurling, Liam Ganson, Emily Spurling, Michael Ganson, Aubrey Opperman, and Avery Opperman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Genevieve and Elton Ganson, and his daughter, Diana Lynn Ganson.

Memorial contributions in Michael’s name may be made to disabled veterans organizations, children’s charities, or the charity of your choice.

To share a memory of Michael, or leave a special message for his family, visit the guestbook below.