Gaskill, Russell L. (1943-2017)

GASKILL, SWANSON, MCGOWAN, ROSS, PUETZ, SNYDER, ARHART, SCHIMMER, SMITH, GERJETS, LUTTRELL

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 3/3/2017 at 12:56:36

Russell L. Gaskill
January 13, 1943 ~ January 26, 2017 (age 74)

Russell L. Gaskill, age 74, of Alta, passed away on Thursday, January 26, 2017, at his Alta residence.

Russell Leroy Gaskill was born on January 13, 1943, in Creston, Iowa, to Kenneth R. and Esther Lorraine (Swanson) Gaskill. Baptized at Salem Lutheran Church in Creston, Iowa, and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa, he attended various grade schools in Iowa before graduating from Washington High School in Cherokee, Iowa, in 1961. On October 28, 1962, he married Karen McGowan at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa. Their union was blessed with three children: Rhonda, Jeff, and Kari. He had lived in Alta, Iowa, for the last forty-nine years. For the first five years of their marriage, however, they lived in Aurelia and Cherokee, Iowa.

Russell worked in the trucking transportation business his entire adult life. He owned and operated his own truck for many years along with working with/for various brokers, friends, and companies. Most recently he worked for the D & H Escort Service out of Albert City, Iowa, guiding oversized loads. Nonetheless, in December of 2015, he retired when his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Russell will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He, always, loved to joke with everyone, share many “Let me take and tell ya” stories, which, invariably, left others with smiles on their faces. His infectious laugh could brighten the worst days.

Russell is survived by his children, Rhonda (Michael) Ross, of Des Moines, Iowa, Jeffrey Gaskill, of Alta, Iowa, and Kari (Neil) Puetz, of Hinton, Iowa; eleven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; his brother, Don (Joan) Gaskill, of Meriden, Iowa; his sisters, Esther Snyder, of Indianola, Iowa, Marilyn Arhart, of Columbia Falls, Montana, Janet Schimmer and Melba Smith, of Galva, Iowa; his brothers-in-law, Merlin and Garlan (Helen) McGowan, of Alta, Iowa; and his sister-in-law, Kathi McGowan, of Destin, Florida; along with several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Russell was preceded in death by his wife, Karen; his parents; his brother, Kenneth Gaskill; his parents-in-law, Urany B. and Elizabeth (Gerjets) McGowan; his brothers-in-law, Ronald Snyder, Lloyd Arhart, Elvin Schimmer, and Delmar, Donald, Robert, and Dennis McGowan; his sisters-in-law, Deloris Luttrell and Delores, Betty, Mary, and MaryAnn McGowan.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at 10:30 AM at the First Congregational Church of Aurelia with the Rev. Bruce Rapp officiating. Burial will follow at a later date. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Alta. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Copyright © 2017, Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Homes

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