Gary A. Krogh, 72, passed away unexpectedly in the arms of his loving husband, Eric Youngberg, on July 21, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Born on November 5, 1953, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to LaRue (“Bud”) and Alice Krogh, Gary grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. There he attended Bethany, Culler Middle, and Northeast High Schools, graduating in 1972 before attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he studied art. 

Gary and Eric met at a memorable party thrown by a mutual friend at the Fannetta Apartments in Lincoln on May 17, 1980, and were essentially inseparable thereafter—so much so that as a twosome they often were referred to simply as “Garrick.” In the summer of 2011, Eric proposed to Gary on the Ferris wheel at the Iowa State Fair, and the two were subsequently married on “Pi Day” (March 14, 2015) in the pergola at their home in Kansas City, with their two best men Jim Degarmo and Tim Super attending. Gary and Eric built and enjoyed a loving, beautiful, and active life together for 46 years. That time was filled with strong family relationships, meaningful and lasting friendships, deep community involvement, beloved pets, historic home restoration, landscaping projects, travel, and other shared passions that included art, music, design, architecture, preservation, collecting, support for the arts, and politics. 

Gary adored music, art, and design, and was a serious collector of recordings, design books, art, antiques, and furniture. As a young man, Gary worked at Dirt Cheap Records in Lincoln, and, after moving with Eric to Kansas City in 1986, continued working in the music scene, this time selling records at Anne Winter’s popular store, Recycled Sounds. Gary also enjoyed combing London-area music and thrift shops to expand his impressive music collection during the couple’s frequent international travel. Gary’s innate passion for design had been stoked by supportive faculty at UNL, and in the early 1980’s he became notable for his innovative and artistic retail display windows created for Dirt Cheap Record and various Lincoln-area department stores. 

Gary had a brilliant mind, an incredible eye, tremendous recall, and keen attention to detail—a perfect storm of qualities that equipped him with an impressive working knowledge of design. As a collector, he particularly loved modernism, but was also drawn to Arts and Crafts, Native American, and other Pacific Northwest art. His commanding knowledge made it possible for him not only to spot, but also easily identify and value, all kinds of collectible items, from vintage toys to rare 20th-century art and furniture. In the late 1980’s, Gary and his business partner Nick Carter opened So Kühl, a pre-owned furniture and home accessory store located in the old Montrose Hotel lobby at 40th and Main Streets and later in the Crestwood Shops in Kansas City. They specialized in Moderne and other eclectic and exotic styles made from the 1920s to the 1960s. Later in his career, Gary worked for many years running the record department at Half Price Books in Westport, where his creativity and expertise in vinyl led that store to consistently outperform more than one hundred other stores in the chain. Working there, Gary was of course also able to indulge in his own love of books while also helping others to do the same. 

Together, Gary and Eric were beloved and active members of their communities, including Malone in Lincoln, and, more recently, Historic Hyde Park (where they were famous for generating record-level sales while hosting the beer and wine tent during the annual Historic Hyde Park Festival), and Wornall Homestead (Brookside area) in Kansas City. The couple were coffee aficionados, and could frequently be spotted at The Roasterie in Brookside, Broadway Café in Westport, or Hi Hat in Westwood. They were also avid film buffs who saw countless movies at the original Tivoli Cinemas in Westport and Glenwood Arts Theater (including some that actually made Gary cry). 

The pair enjoyed perusing Kansas City area estate sales, but also traveled regularly to antique and vintage markets further afield in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, frequently returning with the coolest finds. Over the years, Gary and Eric opened all three of their historic homes for tours, including several sponsored by the KC Bungalow Club. They were also members of the Kansas City-based nonprofit organizations Urban Core Group, Historic Kansas City Foundation, and The Charlotte Street Foundation. Together, they supported the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and were founding members of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Gary and Eric were intrepid travelers who particularly enjoyed visiting London, British Columbia, and Palm Springs, among other destinations. Gary made friends everywhere he went, and was a great neighbor and a natural networker who deliberately facilitated useful connections between people who might never have met each other otherwise. He was a wonderful storyteller, a kind and generous soul, and a friend to so many. Gary always babied his black Volkswagen Beetle convertible, and loved riding in it under sunny skies around Kansas City. And when he did, it was always with his trademark smile that could light up any room. 

Gary will forever remain the love of Eric’s life. In his memory, Eric specifically urges you to play good music, spoil your pets, dance, be kind, and kiss your spouse every morning and every night – just like Gary always did. 

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and sister Vickie Ellen Birdsall. He remained devoted to, and is survived by, his nephews Jeff Birdsall (Tara) and Justin Birdsall (Jaime) and their children, who reside in the metropolitan Kansas City area. 

A celebration of Gary’s life will take place in Kansas City at The Ship (theshipkc.com) from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on September 24, 2026. (Note for those out-of-towners planning to attend: The Plaza Art Fair opens Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. if you’d like to plan to stay for that event.) Other celebrations will take place later this Fall in Lincoln, Nebraska, and during Modernism Week in February 2027, in Palm Springs, California. Further details will be provided on this website once they are available. Interment will take place in a private ceremony at Union Cemetery in Kansas City. 

Those wishing to memorialize Gary with a gift are invited to consider a donation to the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, specifically directed to the “Garrick” Charitable Fund (Fund ID# GARR00). One hundred percent of all such donations will go to non-profit organizations chosen by Gary and Eric to benefit education, the arts, preservation, conservation, health, civil liberties, and their beloved Iowa State Fair.