Duane William Gagle, Jr's Obituary
Duane William "Bill" Gagle, Jr. was born on July 10, 1945, in Great Falls, Montana, to Duane William Gagle, Sr. and Erma Elizabeth (Young) Gagle. From his earliest years, Bill was shaped by the wide-open landscapes of the American West. Some of his most cherished boyhood memories were made alongside his Uncle Dick - hunting, fishing, and roaming the Montana outdoors - adventures that instilled in him a lifelong love of nature and the spirit of exploration.
In 1950, the Gagle family relocated to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, when Bill's father joined Phillips Petroleum as a chemist - a career that would eventually include a key patent and set the stage for a family legacy in business. Bill came of age in Bartlesville, attending McKinley School and College High School, where he was a proud member of the Class of 1963. He played drums in the school band and discovered a passion for golf that would remain one of his greatest joys throughout his life.
After graduation, Bill enrolled at Oklahoma State University, where he studied accounting and participated in the ROTC program. He also became a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, a brotherhood he valued deeply and remained connected to for the rest of his life. Following his time at OSU, Bill was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force, serving as a hospital administrator at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. His time in the military shaped his discipline, leadership, and commitment to service.
After his military service, Bill accepted a position as a hospital administrator at the City Hospital in Ponca City, Oklahoma, continuing to apply his talents in healthcare management. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas, a credential that would open new chapters in his remarkable career. Bill went on to hold various roles with the Williams Companies, work that brought him to Tulsa and later to Denver.
It was through mutual friends - and the coincidence of two Bartlesville natives crossing paths in Tulsa - that Bill met the love of his life, Karen. The two were married on January 24, 1981, in Tulsa, beginning a partnership built on deep affection, laughter, and unwavering devotion. Bill made a point of telling Karen she was pretty every single day - a small but meaningful ritual that spoke volumes about the man he was. Their bond was one of the great loves of those fortunate enough to witness it.
After returning from Denver, Bill joined the family enterprise, the Gagle Company, which manufactured a patented polypropylene product used primarily to line landfills. The product was both innovative and highly successful. Following the sale of the Gagle Company, Bill channeled his entrepreneurial spirit into founding Gagle Associates, an IT consulting firm that secured numerous government contracts and managed billion-dollar technology projects. His ability to move fluidly between healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and information technology was a testament to his sharp mind and relentless drive.
In retirement, Bill's world centered on the people he loved most. He held memberships at Meadowbrook Country Club and the Golf Club of Oklahoma, and the fairways became a gathering place where he created memories with family and friends. Whatever he tried, Bill excelled - whether it was golf, bowling, or the card table where he played a formidable game of bridge. In later years, he and Karen developed a shared enthusiasm for firearms and target shooting, enjoying the pastime together with characteristic competitiveness and good humor.
Those who knew Bill would describe him simply and warmly: funny, kind, warm, affectionate, and devoted - with just enough ornery thrown in to keep everyone on their toes. He teased with love and laughed easily. He made people feel seen and welcome. His children and grandchildren became the light of his later years, and his role as grandfather was one he embraced with his whole heart. Bill really loved the family dog, Riley, who became his fur-baby and constant companion.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Karen; his daughter, Marcy Ann Frank and her husband Gary; his son, Martin William "Mark" Gagle; his grandchildren, Parker, Kyle, and Alexandra; two great-grandchildren, Bristol and Orianthi Kay; his sisters, Jeanne Gagle Thornhill and husband William, and Merry Beth Gagle Poore and husband William; his brother, Richard Lynn Gagle and wife Karen; and numerous extended family members whose lives were enriched by knowing him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Duane William Gagle, Sr. and Erma Elizabeth Gagle.
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