David Alan Hensley

David Alan Hensley has gone fishing. Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on August 14, 2026, at the age of 76. He was born to Clifford Carl and Frances Pearl (Bennett) Hensley on April 5, 1950, in Arkansas City, Kansas. Dave lived a life full of curiosity, stubbornness, and love, and he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Dave grew up in the Maple City-Otto area where he was raised on the family dairy farm. Through outdoor chores, hauling hay, and life on the farm, he developed a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Hunting and fishing became lifelong passions, and he proudly passed that love of the outdoors on to his children and grandchildren.

Dave attended Otto Country School alongside his brothers, Marvin and Steve. He later attended Dexter High School before moving in with his grandmother, Iza Hensley Foltz, so he could play football and attend Arkansas City High School, where he graduated in 1968. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Kansas State University.

Dave met the love of his life, Katherine Lynn Parsons, while attending Dexter High School. They dated for ten years before marrying on August 5, 1972. They eventually made their home in Mulvane, Kansas, where they built a life together rooted in faith, family, and hard work.

Throughout his career, Dave worked for L&S Machine Company, Triumph, and Superior in Wichita, Kansas. Whether at work or at home, he approached every task with determination, grit, and a strong work ethic. Dave was a master angler, conservationist, and outdoorsman. Whether hunting, fishing, gardening, or simply enjoying nature, he found peace and purpose outdoors. When someone asked where Dave was, the answer was often, "Gone fishing." Many of his happiest days were spent on the water with family and friends, making memories and enjoying the beauty of the world around him.

Those who knew Dave knew he was ornery in the very best way. He loved a practical joke, always enjoyed a good challenge, and somehow managed to get the last laugh. He was also a self-taught master of the culinary arts, most famously known among family and friends for his cheesecake and homemade ice cream.

Dave was a man of many passions and even more collections. He was an avid collector of outboard motors, coins, especially pennies, minnow buckets, bricks, and just about anything else that caught his eye. His collections reflected a man who found wonder and value in things others might overlook.

It is quite certain Dave was welcomed into Heaven by his parents; his beloved niece, Stephanie Hensley Legleiter; and a handful of his favorite dogs. Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 54 years, Katherine Parsons Hensley; his children, Kourtney (Frank IV) Carson, Cody (Andrea) Hensley, and Aubrey Hensley; his brothers, Marvin Hensley and Steve (Virginia) Hensley; and his six cherished grandchildren: Frank Lee Carson V, Henry David Carson, Elisabeth Katherine Carson, Frances Margaret Carson, Carter Alan Hensley, and Alexander Cole Hensley.

Dave lived life on his own terms, with dirt on his hands, a tackle box nearby, and usually a story to tell. He will be deeply missed, affectionately remembered, and forever carried in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

A gathering with family and friends will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Smith Family Mortuaries, 501 E. Louis Blvd., Mulvane, Kansas 67110.

A memorial service celebrating Dave's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Bible Christian Church, 2411 N. 8th St., Arkansas City, Kansas 67005.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas Humane Society or to the David Hensley Memorial for Mulvane Football at any Carson Bank location.

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