Gerald "Butch" K. Nesler

Gerald grew up for a time on the family farm near Gordon, until his family moved to Augusta, Kansas. He would attend school, and graduate from Augusta High School in 1968. He would eventually graduate from Butler Community College with his associate’s degree in 1996. Life always has a way of sending people in unexpected directions, and sometimes on unexpected adventures.

Gerald joined the United States Air Force in 1968, and he would serve until 1975. He served two tours in Ban Me Thout, Vietnam at the Air Force Firebase. While there, he wore many hats – he was a mechanic, handled cooking supplies, and was a cook known for his meatloaf. During his service, he met Mang “Mai” Thi Phan there in 1970. They would marry on July 26, 1971 and have two children: Mary Maimosa Gomez and Kennedy Keith Nesler. During his time abroad, he would also drive the motorpool for the colonel around the fighting fields.

Not one to shirk duty or hard work, he would leave the Air force and join the Air National Guard, joined the US Army, and Army Reserves through the years of 1975 to 1986.

During that timeframe, Gerald did a tour of duty in California for the Army Reserves where he was in charge of finances and payroll. He also became part of the rifle shooting team and would travel from base to base to compete.

He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1975 after the two tours of duty. Gerald re-enlisted in the Air National Guard and was honorably discharged in May of 1977. Gerald then joined the US Army and Army Reserves continuing his service and was honorably discharged in 1986. After his duty with the US Army and Army Reserves, he finally decided to leave the military behind and began his work in the civilian sector.

In 1986, he worked at Cessna while going through HVAC school. Gerald would take those skills and go work for Boeing, mostly in sheet metal assembly including as a Supervisor for the next 25 years.

Gerald and Mai both were known for their work ethic, being business owners – Beauty Hair Designs, Egg Roll Palace in Augusta, two laundromats in Wichita, and Rainbow Lawn Care. He also worked briefly at America West Airlines. He officially retired in 2017 after working for Pals Glass Service as a delivery driver for ten years.

Gerald would lose his first wife Mai in 2006. He did find love again, and married Claudetta Wilena Mitchell on June 4, 2019. They resided in Augusta with their 3 four-legged animals Heni, Emma Jean, and Tater-Tot.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Mang Thi “Mai” Nesler; and siblings, Jerry Lee Nesler, Ruth Ann Nesler, Eugene Nesler, Richard Nesler, Margaret Joyce Fessler, Mildred Darlene Ingram, Dennis Nesler, and step-son Allen Barg.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Claudetta Wilena Mitchell; children, Mary Gomez, husband Ruben Gomez of Wichita, KS, Kennedy Nesler, wife Lacey Nesler of Wichita, KS; grandchildren, Jessica Loree Eisenbarth, husband Erron, great-grandchildren Waylon Dean and Whitley Rose Eisenbarth of Cassody, KS, grandchildren Kysen Keith Nesler of San Jacinto, CA, and Kenna Marie Nesler of Wichita, KS, step-grandchildren Gabriella Geist, great-grandchildren Blaise Gomez, Nova and Rowan Geist of Salina, KS, grandchildren Paden Gomez, great-grandchildren Arrianna, Monica and Atlas Buehler of Keller, TX, siblings, Kathaleen Northcutt, Charles Nesler, and Shirley Shafer, the Phan family; and many loving friends.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at Hillside Funeral Home West, 2929 West 13th Street North, Wichita, KS 67203. A funeral service will take place at 11:00 at the same location. Committal will immediately follow at Elmwood Cemetery, 501 12th Ave., Augusta, KS 67010.