Craig Douglas Gebhard was born December, 9, 1955, in Alma, Nebraska, to Charles W and G. Eileen (Godfrey) Gebhard. He was their second of four children, and the only son. Craig attended the Woodruff school until fourth grade. He then went to Long Island, and graduated from Northern Valley in 1973.

Always passionate about agriculture, he was a dedicated member of the Future Farmers of America. There he developed his skills as an orator, which he would use to encourage and inspire people the rest of his life. Farming, while still his passion, was soon relegated to the second love of his life when he met Nyla Deane Edgett in junior high. Elected the Kansas FFA State Secretary in 1973, Craig followed Nyla to attend Colby Community Junior College. At Colby he studied radio communications.

Craig and Nyla were wed May 24, 1975, in the Long Island United Methodist Church. They made their home southeast of Long Island where Craig's grandma and grandpa Godfrey once lived. He then set about living his dream with his bride, raising cattle, wheat, and milo on the farm with his dad. On the side, he would put his voice to work as a DJ.

On March 6, 1984, Craig and Nyla welcomed their only son, Ashton, into the world. Craig was excited to take his boy everywhere with him, even if it meant carrying him in a feed bucket. He designed and built farm playsets and accessories for Ashton's toys. They spent many hours playing catch before school, and many more in the pickup where Craig did his best to pass on his knowledge to the next generation.

Knowing first-hand the financial risk of farming, Craig believed strongly in the cooperative model. He lent his time wherever he thought he could be of use. He served on the Co-op board and was part of their transition to become Rangeland Cooperative. He would later serve on the Hays Federal Land Bank Association board, which became High Plains Farm Credit, for 26 years. Concurrently, he regularly served on the Long Island Church board, and, for a time, the Phillips County Christian Foundation.

Every person he came in contact with in these roles and throughout his life quickly came to know Craig as a good-natured jokester, a discerning leader, a compassionate person, and a devout Christian. Craig's life came to a close due to a tragic farm accident on February 9, 2024, at the age of 68. He was preceded in death by his mother, G. Eileen Gebhard; sister-in-law, Diane Stutterheim; and nephew, Dustin Hogan.

Craig is survived by his wife, Nyla; son Ashton (Julia) of Almena, KS; father Charles of rural Phillipsburg; sisters Kathy Hogan (Lee) of Hastings, NE, Cam Thaden of Eudora, KS, and Ranelle Hays (Gale) of rural Prairie View, KS; aunt Donna Fae Van Kooten of rural Long Island, KS; uncle Duane Townsend of Council Bluffs, IA; many nieces and nephews; a plethora of friends; and his devoted corgi companion, Gibbs.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 16, 2024 in the Northern Valley Middle School, Long Island, KS with Pastor Ted Stapleton officiating. The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. A private burial will take place prior to the services in the Woodruff Cemetery, Woodruff, KS.

Mr. Gebhard will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.  The family will receive friends Thursday evening at the chapel from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Team Schnak Strong Fund which helps send kids with Type 1 Diabetes to Camp Discovery or the Kansas Suicide Prevention HQ which helps train and fund counselors for the suicide prevention hotline, 988, in Kansas.