Russell LeRoy GAETZKE

PALS, GAETZKE, BAILEY, DAVIS, AGLER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/29/2006 at 18:33:49

Russell LeRoy Gaetzke, 84, Meservey, died March 14, 2006 at the hospice unit of the Belmond Medical Center. Services were held March 17 at the First Reformed Church in Meservey with Rev. Rodney Meester officiating. Burial was in the Immanuel Reformed cemetery near Belmond with military rites by the Belmond Honor Guard.

Russell LeRoy was born July 4, 1921 in Meservey, the son of Roy and Beulah (Agler) Gaetzke Langlitz. He graduated from Meservey High School in 1939. After working for different farmers he enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard in October 1942 and served in South Carolina, Florida, Alaska and Hawaii until discharged in 1946. He went back to Meservey and worked at Wendel Hardware, Coast-to-Coast, P&G Grocery, Midwest Egg, and Klemme Co-op until his retirement in 1986. Russell married Evelyn Pals on June 28, 1947 at the bride's parents' home. They lived in Meservey. Russell was an avid New York Yankees fan and enjoyed Iowa Hawkeyes basketball games. His greatest love and enjoyment were his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In earlier years Russ enjoyed playing softball and participated in many tournaments. He was a member of the First Reformed Church in Meservey and the Belmond V.F.W.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother and sister-in-law, Lowell and Beatrice Gaetzke. Survivors include his wife; children Gregory (Deesa) Gaetzke of Frederika, Russalyn (Ronald) Davis of Hanlontown, Barbara (Mark) Bailey of Belmond, and Reese Gaetzke and his special friend Holly of Meservey; grandchildren Brent (Marie), Ross, Ryan (Kathy), Chad, Craig (special friend Sarah), and Heather (Flint); and great-grandchildren Chase, Morgan, Brook, Brendon, and Brier; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Roland and Shirley Pals, Roger Pals, and Arlen and Shirley Pals.

March 21, 2006
©Belmond Independent 2006