GULLICKSON, Marcella 1907-2006

GULLICKSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 4/19/2006 at 16:39:41

Marcella Sybella Gullickson, 98, of Northwood, died Monday, March 27, 2006, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood. A funeral service celebrating her life was held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 31, 2006, at the First Lutheran Church, 309 North 9th Street, Northwood, with Reverend Barbara Wifis officiating. Visitation was held on Thursday, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. South, Northwood. Visitation will also be one hour prior to service time on Friday at the church. Following the funeral service cremation will take place, with inurnment at a later date in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood. The family of Marcella Sybella Gullickson has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Physical Therapy department at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, or to Compassion International in her memory.

Marcella Sybella Bistline was born on August 3, 1907, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Charles W. and Elsie J. (Berquist) Bistline. As a child she moved with her family to a farm east of Mason City. Upon graduation from Iowa State Teacher’s College with an Associates Degree she began her teaching career in a country school near Grafton. On March 15, 1936, she was united in marriage to Joseph A. Gullickson at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Mason City; they farmed by Rock Falls and then near Northwood. When their four children were in school she returned to work, teaching special education in Kensett and Hanlontown. She also served as Sunday school superintendent at First Lutheran church for many years. Her interests included gardening (especially flowers), sewing, reading, and making crafts of all kinds. She was a woman of remarkable spirit and determination as evidenced by her many trips to Iowa City to obtain care for their youngest son Bob as a child, her lifelong pursuit of education, her dedication to exercise, and how she conquered the computer in her nineties, and the wonderful aroma and taste of her home-made pies and cinnamon rolls will always be remembered by her children and grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Evelyn Ludeman of Mesa, Arizona; three of her four children, JoAnn (Bifi) Alexander of Northwood, Jay (Iva) Gullickson of Farwell, MN, and Arlen (Janet) Gullickson of Kalamazoo, MI; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; as well as other relatives and friends.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents, her son Robert (Bob), her husband Joe, and two brothers, Russell and Edward Bistline, and a sister Marian Frahm.

Source: Northwood Anchor, April 5, 2006