Gaul, Thomas F. "Tom" (1937-2007)

GAUL, KOLBECK, PASKERT, VITITO, CURBEAM, HINDT, LARSON, RUPPERT

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/29/2008 at 09:48:13

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, August 22, 2007

Thomas F. "Tom" Gaul, 70, of Le Mars, died Monday Aug. 20, 2007 at Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars (Brentwood), after a lengthy illness.

Thomas Frank Gaul was born May 29, 1937, at Granville, the son of Fred and Josephine (Kolbeck) Gaul. He moved with his family as a young boy to a farm near Ashton. He grew up in the Ashton area and graduated from St. Joseph's Parochial School in 1955. Tom entered into the service with the U.S. Navy on Jan. 4, 1956. He served as an Aviation Electronics Technician (Navigation) and was stationed on Midway Island in the Pacific Ocean. He was honorably discharged and transferred to reserves on Nov. 24, 1959.

Thomas Gaul married LaVonne Paskert on Sept. 21, 1963, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars. Following their marriage the couple made their home in Le Mars, where Tom was employed with NIPCO for 25 years. For the last 10 years of his career, he was employed with MidAmerican Energy in Sioux City, retiring at the age of 62.

Tom was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars.

He was a certified Master Gardener and Conservationist. In his younger years, he had his private pilot's license and enjoyed flying single engine aircraft. Tom also enjoyed bicycling and had participated in RAGBRAI for six years.

Survivors include his wife LaVonne of Le Mars; two daughters and their husbands: LeAnne and Don Vitito and JoLynn and James Curbeam, both of Omaha, Neb.; four grandchildren: Michael and Sara Vitito and Alex and Olivia Curbeam, all of Omaha; five brothers: Merlin "Mick" Gaul and his wife Pat of San Ramon, Calif., Paul Gaul and his wife Pat of Corvallis, Mont., Bob Gaul and his wife Shirley of Sioux City, Richard "Dick" Gaul and his wife Janice of Le Mars and Bill Gaul of Winters, Calif.; three sisters: Ardene Hindt and her husband Marion of Prior Lake, Minn., Betty Larson and her husband Ralph of Arnold, Neb., and Patsy Ruppert and her husband Bernard of Madison, Neb.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Josephine Gaul.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. Kevin Richter officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with military honors provided by the American Legion, Wasmer Post #241.

Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Thursday at the Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars, where there will be a rosary at 4 p.m. and a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m.