GAUGER, John Henry 1921-2004

GAUGER, DAVIDSON, JANSSEN

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 11/2/2008 at 10:42:50

Service:
Friday, September 17, 2004
Trinity United Methodist Church
601 Milwaukee
Charles City,

John Gauger, 82, a resident of 204 Park Drive, Charles City, died Sunday, September 12, 2004, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services for John Gauger will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday [Sept. 17, 2004] at Trinity United Methodist Church. Pastor Paul Wilcox will officiate. Burial will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens. Military honors will be conducted by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.

Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

John Henry Gauger was born November 22, 1921, on a farm near Floyd, the son of Walter C. and L. Anna (Janssen) Gauger. He attended Floyd and Rockwell City schools, graduating from Charles City High School in 1939. John then attended Iowa State Teachers College for two years.

On May 2, 1944, John was united in marriage to Arlette Davidson at Charles City. John proudly served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, American Theater Service Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal. John’s career at the United States Post Office spanned 43 years and he retired in August 1984.

His career began as a substitute clerk and upon his retirement he was a Program Manager of Delivery Services at Regional Headquarters in Chicago. He also worked in Evansville, IN as a Customer Service Officer and taught classes at the Postal Services Management Institute in Washington D.C. John was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where he had served as a Sunday School superintendent and teacher, Lay Speaker and on various boards and committees. They spent many winters in Seal Beach, CA, where they attended Leisure World Community Church and John taught Sunday School.

He enjoyed life to the fullest especially traveling and spending time with his family. Thursday mornings would find John having breakfast with “the best postal crew in the world”. John will be remembered by many as an important father figure impacting their lives.

He always felt that his purpose in life was serving and this was evidenced in his service to God, country, postal career, family and friends.

John is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Arlette Gauger of Charles City; his children, Janice Benson of Bakersfield, CA, Nanette (Jon) Winkel of Sargeant Bluff, and Richard (Jan) Gauger of Falcon Heights, MN; his grandchildren, Tammy (Chris) Ryder, Todd Benson, Derek (Deonne) Winkel, Daniel Winkel, John Gauger, Erich Gauger, and Michael Gauger; his great grandchildren, Dylan Benson, Anna and Ella Ryder; two sisters-in-law, Elaine Davidson and Marion Zierath; five brothers-in-law, Dean Schlick, Alvin (Shirley) Davidson, Allen (Sharon) Davidson, Glenn (Ruth) Davidson, Lyle (Vera) Davidson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kermit Gauger; a sister-in-law, Gen Schlick; and three brothers-in-law, Irving Davidson, Oscar Davidson and Raymond Zierath.
Memorials may be directed to Trinity United Methodist Church, Leisure World Community Church, 1400 Church Place, Seal Beach, CA 90740 or Hospice of North Iowa Charles City site.

[Hauser Funeral Home obit.]