Gail Edna Artz, daughter of Jerry & Catherine (Olson) Misner, was born December 27, 1944 in Denver, Colorado. She and her older brother, Gary, were later adopted by George Johnson and their new family also included a half-brother, Eric.

Gail grew up and attended schools in Denver, graduating from Manual High School in 1963. As a young girl she enjoyed riding her bike and going to the swimming pool. When she was old enough, she began working in her Grandmother Betty's café in Idaho Springs, Colorado.

She met her husband, Loren Artz, in 1962, while babysitting for his brother's children. The couple married on December 20, 1963 in Idaho Springs. They moved to Phillipsburg, Kansas, where their home was blessed with a daughter, Deb, and a son, Bob.
Along with being a homemaker and mother, Gail was somewhat of a workaholic. She had numerous jobs over the years – sometimes working two different places in a day. She worked in Environmental Services at the Phillips County Hospital for 15 years, as well as in retail sales at the Ben Franklin store. But her passions were cake decorating and caregiving. Many nights after working all day she would go home to bake and decorate cakes.

Gail loved children of all ages and there was definitely "no child left behind" if she was in charge! She was known to fill up her vehicle to overflowing to take kids to church north of town.

Caring for her family and spending time with her grandkids and great-grandkids were her greatest joys in life. Gail passed away on August 3, 2015 at Kensington Health & Rehab in Kensington, Kansas, at the age of 70. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her grandmother Betty; her older brother, Gary Johnson; and her husband, Loren, on November 4, 2007.

Survivors include her son, Bob Artz, and daughter, Deb Watt & husband, Eric, all of Phillipsburg, KS; her brother, Eric Johnson & wife, Sherry, of Denver, CO; her brother-in-law, Ken Artz & wife, Linda, also of Phillipsburg; 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 7, at 10:00 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Jay Brandon officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.
Mrs. Artz will lie in-state on Wednesday from 5-9 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice Services