GUNSALLUS, Robert E. 1920-2013

GUNSALLUS, WARRINGTON, FEHR

Posted By: COUNTY COORDINATOR
Date: 10/20/2013 at 00:30:23

OSAGE, IOWA - Robert E. Gunsallus, 92, of Osage died Friday, October 18, 2013, at Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.

Services are pending at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage, 641-732-3706, www.champion-bucheitfuneralhome.com .

SOURCE: Mason City Globe Gazette, Oct. 20, 2013
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#2:

Robert E. Gunsallus

(Died October 18, 2013)

U.S. Veteran

Robert Eugene Gunsallus, age 92, of Osage, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 18, 2013, at the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m, Tuesday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage with Rev. Roy Ott officiating. Inurnment will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery in St. Ansgar with military rites conducted by Osage V.F.W Post 7920. Visitation is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage. Following the visitation, cremation will take place.

Robert was born December 26, 1920, in Osage, the oldest of ten children to James A. and Lola M. (Fehr) Gunsallus. Following graduation from Osage High School in 1940, he helped on his parents’ farm, prior to being drafted into the service in 1942. He served in the 76th Army General Hospital Unit and participated in the D-Day invasion, as well as the battles of Ardennes and the Bulge, for which he earned three Bronze Stars. He was presented the Liberty Medal Award from the French Government for his efforts in their liberation on the 50th year anniversary in 1997. After being honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1945, he returned to north Iowa and continued the farming life he always loved.

On September 18, 1949, he married Lucile Warrington at the Osage Lutheran Church. In addition to farming, he also served as custodian at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, worked for Man-An-So Feed and Fertilizer, drove truck, worked for the City of Osage and was always one of the first in line to lend a helping hand to friends in need. He was a lifetime member of Osage V.F.W. Post 7920, serving in the Honor Guard and past Commander. He was also an active member of the Osage American Legion Post 278. He was a longtime active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

Robert is survived by his daughters: Marsha Schultz of Lapeer, Michigan, Holly (John) VanHeel of Fort Dodge, Beth (Russell) Rightmire of Willis, Texas; his son, Kendall (Anita) Gunsallus of Hayfield, Minnesota; his six granddaughters, Jamie Gordon, Margaret and Katherine VanHeel, Courtney Sedorchuk, Taylor Rightmire and Bobbi Gunsallus; his sisters, Evelyn (Bill) Rosensweig of Casper, Wyoming, Ann (Harold) Feldt of St. Ansgar, Shirley (Robert) Fiser of Charles City, Ruby (Larry) Fjetland of Edgemont, Arkansas; his two brothers, Dean Gunsallus of Manly James (Phyllis) Gunsallus of Osage; and he also leaves a special friend, Maxine Chastain of Charles City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lucile in 2005; an infant son, Curtis; daughter, Rogene Gordon in 2011; one brother, William “Keith”; and two sisters, Helen Jean in infancy and Betty Kozak.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage, (641)732-3706, is in charge of arrangements.

Source: Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home website, 20 OCT 2013