Gfeller has strong ties to northwest Kansas. He was born in Oakley, and spent his early childhood on a farm near Winona. He later moved to Russell, where he attended school and graduated from Russell High School. He earned his accounting degree at Kansas State University.
Following college, he worked for four years for Arthur Young & Company in Wichita, specializing in oil & gas accounting and taxation.
In 1978, he became the CFO of a small publicly-held oil and gas exploration and production company in Dallas, and then held a similar position at Ferrell Companies, Inc., a Kansas City based company involved in oil and gas, real estate, banking, manufacturing, financial services and propane distribution. He became President and CEO of Ferrellgas, Inc. in 1985.
Gfeller never lost his attachment to Northwest Kansas. He still has family in Russell. In 1992, he purchased a ranch northwest of Russell and began spending quite a bit of time there. In 2013, he and his wife, Angela moved to the ranch permanently.
After leaving Ferrellgas in 1991, Gfeller worked in the investment field and also served on a number of boards including many public, private and foundation boards across several different industries. He says his personal criteria for service has always been “whether I thought I had something to offer, whether the mission was one I could support and whether I could commit the time needed to do the necessary work.”
“I appreciate my rural roots and I believe sustaining our rural heritage is vital to our communities. I support 100% the mission and guiding principles of the Hansen Foundation,” Gfeller said. “I have seen the value of the grants, scholarships and initiatives of the Foundation’s work.”
Gfeller’s appointment follows the death of former Trustee, Gary Poore, who served the Foundation for 13 years.
He joins current board members, Doug Albin, Wakeeney; Carol Bales, Logan; Doyle Fair, Wichita; Robert Hartman, Hays; Cy Moyer, Phillipsburg; and Brien Stockman, Logan.
The Dane G. Hansen Foundation was established in 1965 with an estate gift from Dane G. Hansen. Based in Mr. Hansen’s hometown of Logan, the Foundation has been providing scholarships and grants to support growth and prosperity to the residents of Northwest Kansas for 54 years. The Foundation has a primary service area that includes the 26 most northwest counties in the state.
— Submitted