GARY A. GUKEISEN 1943-2003

GASELL, GUKEISEN, SCHWARTZ, HEIDERSCHEIT, GUKEISEN, MCCORMICK, BAUMHOVER

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/5/2003 at 18:16:16

Gary A. Gukeisen

Telegraph Herald - Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Mr. Gary A. Gukeisen, 59, of 10572 Watters Forest Drive, died Monday, Sept. 8, 2003, at home.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, where friends may call after 9 a.m. Thursday. The Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Gukeisen worked as a senior product designer at John Deere Dubuque Works for 36½ years, retiring in December 2001.

He was born on Sept. 21, 1943, in Dubuque, son of Robert S. and Marie (Gasell) Gukeisen. He married Ellen Schwartz on Aug. 22, 1970, at Nativity Catholic Church, Dubuque.

He was a graduate of Dubuque Senior High School. He served four years in the Navy. He was a lifelong member of St. Peter Lutheran Church.

Being an avid hosta collector, he was a member of the Dubuque Regional Hosta Society. He also was a member of the National Ski Patrol, volunteering at Sundown Mountain for 21 years.

Surviving are his wife, Ellen; a daughter, Michelle (Tim) Heiderscheit; a son, Mark (Cassie) Gukeisen; two adored grandsons, Eric Heiderscheit and Isaac Gukeisen; his mother, Marie Gukeisen; and two sisters, Jan (Pat) McCormick and Penny (Dale) Baumhover.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert; and a brother, Douglas.

The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be given to St. Peter Lutheran Church and the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

The family wishes to express deep gratitude to Dr. Kirk Payne and his staff at Medical Associates, Hospice of Dubuque (especially Dorothy), and a very special thank-you to Carol Cowan, cousin, friend and our very own angel of mercy.