John Gamble

John Neil Gamble, 62, of Rockford, Ohio, went home to be with the Lord, surrounded by his family, on September 24, 2017, at Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center, after a nearly three year heroic and God-filled battle with pancreatic cancer. John was born on May 13, 1955 in Van Wert, Ohio, to William (Bill) and Margaret (Craine) Gamble. He married Rickie (Suman) Gamble on August 18, 1985, who survives in rural Rockford.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Rickie, are their two daughters: Amanda (Seth) Kohnen and Ashley Gamble; one grandchild, Micah Kohnen, and one grandchild expected to arrive in November. Also surviving are his mother, Margaret Gamble of Willshire; three brothers and a sister: Ray Gamble, Steve (Kathleen) Gamble, Dean (Angela) Gamble, and Joy (John) Koch, as well as three sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law: Marilyn (Jerry) Lautzenheiser, Becky (David) White, Rosie Pond, and Kevin (Becky) Suman; and fourteen nieces and nephews: Michael (Megan) Gamble, Trent (Betsy) Gamble, Troy (Brittany) Gamble, Kayla (Aaron) Wolf, Karmen Koch, Michelle (Mark) Bayus, Dawn (Aaron) Brown, Jeff (Camille) Lautzenheiser, Scott (Ruby) White, Travis White, Erica Pond, Jana (J. R.) Sigler, Jessica (Bryan) Smalley, and Jade Suman. He was preceded in death by his father,two nephews: Trey Koch and Jed Pond, niece, Amy Pond, and a great-great nephew Beau Flory..
John graduated from Parkway High School in 1973. He was a life-long grain farmer with his father, brothers, and nephews in Mercer and Van Wert counties and even farmed in Perry County, Ohio, for four years. John was a member of Praise Point Church in Willshire, Ohio, where he served on the administrative board and finance committee for many decades. He served as board president over the years and as co-chair of the building committee when the church building was built in 2005. He was known for his engineering feats and ideas including but not limited to: the grain tank extension for his combine, the “swing away” overhead door post for his shop, and the idea of moving the parquet gym floor from the former Parkway High School to Praise Point Church. John was known for his leadership, problem-solving, and troubleshooting abilities. As busy as John was, he never turned down an opportunity to spend time with family and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 30th, at 10:00 a.m. at Praise Point Church, 555 Decatur Road, Willshire, Ohio, with Pastor Brad Kittle and Pastor Mark Rutledge officiating. Burial will follow at Willshire Cemetery in Willshire, Ohio. Friends may call at Praise Point Church on Friday, September 29th from 12:00-4:00 p.m. and 5:00 -8:00 p.m., and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Preferred memorials may be directed to Praise Point Church, Camp COTUBIC, or Parkway FFA. Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford, has been entrusted with John’s arrangements.