Dean “Dino” Wayne Gipe, 85, of Salina, passed away Thursday September 10, 2026, at home from a battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family.
He was the oldest of five children born to Earl and Alma (Dusin) Gipe in Phillipsburg, KS. Dean was united in marriage to Pamela Faulkender in July 1967 who preceded him in death on December 5, 2022.
In 1961, Dean enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed for four years in Hawaii. After his service in the navy, he returned home to Phillipsburg, KS and worked at Ulrich Chevrolet. Dean moved to Lucas, KS and began working for Tom Brown driving a water truck on I-70 as the interstate was being built through middle Kansas. He lived in the Garden of Eden in Lucas with two brothers and a cousin while working on the interstate.
In July 1967, after marriage to Pamela, they moved to Salina where Dean started work at Phillips Lighting and retired after forty years in 2008.
Always one to keep busy, Dean attended veteran programs. In 2008 after retirement, he began making ropes and involved his son Chad and grandsons in the endeavor that brought many inquisitive people to view the interesting trade. He gave many rope making shows throughout the years, completing his last show with his son Chad, in Mankato, KS on July 17, 2026.
He was also a Steam Engine operator and inspector and enjoyed doing reenactments of the steam engines and shows. In addition, he was a sawmill enthusiast and traveled to Hermann, MO to look at a sawmill and then onto northern Missouri to look at another.
Dean was interested in vintage wood working tools, mainly wood planers. He could not pass on a good deal and his collection has surpassed 100 of different sizes and brands of the wood planers.
Dino helped care for four grandkids and took them on jaunts to his favorite stores, Lowes and Menards with root beer freezes (one of his favorites) as bait for the trip!
Dean enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s school activities that included music programs, award banquets, and sporting events. He often accompanied his daughter in law, Tonya to games throughout the state of Kansas. In 2025, he used his Farmall tractor to pull a float with his granddaughter Abbey, the Homecoming Queen in the Tescott Homecoming parade. The previous year, grandson Wyatt was Homecoming King!
He enjoyed trips to family reunions with Krenda and John. He loved helping out at the reunions and all other events, especially in the kitchen. People often would comment that they couldn’t have got everything done without Dino’s help!
Dean’s legacy to his family indeed was teaching the young ones skills and a sense of caring and love for his family and his country. Dean is now reunited with his true love, Pam. Both are sincerely missed.
He was preceded in death by both his parents, brother Ronald Gipe, and wife Pamela (Faulkender) Gipe.
Survivors include his siblings: John Gipe, Salina; Dannie (Sue) Gipe, Jefferson City, MO, Alta (Gary) Nichol, Lindsborg; daughter Krenda Ray, sons Shon Gipe, Salina and Chad (Tonya) Gipe, Tescott. Six grandchildren: Weston (Sadie) and Kyler Ray, Skyler (Justin) Schneider, Salina, Wyatt, Eli and Abbey Tescott. Three great grandchildren: Scarlett and Jasper (Weston), Jaylen (Skyler Schneider)
A Celebration of Life will be held October 3, 2026, from 1:00 – 4 :00 p.m. (come and go event) at Martinelli’s Little Italy at 158 S. Santa Fe Ave., Salina. Graveside services will be at a later date at Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg, Ks.