Memorial Services on Tuesday, March 17th HAVE BEEN POSTPONED...
Jim was born on February 27, 1926, to Russell Arnold and Leoti Buttolph Gasal in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In 1933, the family moved to Kansas City, where Jim attended elementary and Southwest High School. He was a lifelong loyal supporter of Southwest, and maintained the friendship of his classmates for 75 years. The group of “Past Prime Pacers” met for breakfast each month.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps (U.S. Air Force) on June 9, 1943, the day he graduated from high school. During World War II, he served as an engineer in the 15th Air Corps, 463rd Bomb Group which was stationed in Foggia, Italy. He completed 35 bombing raids over Germany, among them, Berlin. After the war, he remained in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, achieving the rank of Captain.
Jim returned to Kansas City where he graduated from The University of Kansas City with an undergraduate degree in history and political science. He then attended UMKC School of Law.
Jim married the former Elizabeth Dobyns from Shelbina, Missouri, on October 1st, 1960. He is survived by his loving wife, Buff, of 59 years, his son, David Franklin Gasal, his daughter Elizabeth Gasal Ferguson and husband Jim, all of Prairie Village, Kansas, and six grandchildren: Lucy, Molly, David Jr., and Harry Gasal, and Joe and Jack Ferguson.
In 1952, he joined the brokerage firm of Harris-Upham where he remained for 27 years. Jim opened and managed the Harris-Upham Plaza office in 1962. In 1975, the firm merged with Smith Barney & Company, and moved to Crown Center. During the 1980s, with a series of brokerage firm mergers, Jim managed Shearson, Haydon, Stone, E.F. Hutton and Prudential Bache. After retiring, Jim was a member of The Kansas City Board of Trade.
Jim was a deacon and twice an elder in Second Presbyterian Church where he was active over 65 years. He was a long-time member of The Carriage Club, 52-year member of Ivanhoe Masonic Lodge and Ararat Temple and a member of The Society of Fellows of the Nelson-Atkins Museum. He lived at Oak Hall and loved The Plaza and Kansas City.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Second Presbyterian Church, 318 East 55th Street, Kansas City, MO 64113, or Shriner’s Hospital for Children 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Fl. 33607.
