Lynn Dallas GAULKE

GAULKE, LARSEN, NELSEN, DEJAEGHER, WIGHTMAN, MCBRIDE, HARLAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/19/2014 at 12:22:36

December 6, 1939 --- March 16, 2014

Lynn Dallas Gaulke, 74, a long-time resident of Nevada, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, March 16, 2014. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada, with Pastor Myron Herzberg officiating. Committal services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Morgan Cemetery, Dows. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada.

Lynn Gaulke was born to Fay and Verna (Larsen) Gaulke on Dec. 6, 1939, in Dows. He grew up on a farm near Dows and graduated from Dows High School in 1959. Lynn studied auto mechanics at the U.S. Trade School in Kansas City, Mo. He married Judy Nelsen in 1959. To that 13-year union were born two children, one son, Bennett, and one daughter, Natalie. In October 1974, Lynn married Lillian (DeJaegher) Wightman and adopted her young daughter, Jill.

Lynn worked as an auto mechanic for both the Ford and Chevrolet garages in Nevada for 15 years. In 1977, he acquired his own business, Lynn’s Car Wash, in Ames, which he operated for more than 30 years prior to his retirement. Lynn was enlisted in the Iowa National Guard from 1958-64, earning the rank of sergeant. He was a member of the American Legion, Memorial Lutheran Church and Golden K Kiwanis. He was also a member of the Iowa Car Wash Association, serving as president for a year.

Lynn’s interests and hobbies included flying his own plane, collecting and fixing antique clocks, observing wildlife and working on his acreage south of Nevada. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, golfing, RV trips and attending ISU basketball games. He especially cherished family gatherings, watching grandchildren’s extracurricular events and special fishing trips to Canada.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Lillian; three children, Bennett (Debra) Gaulke, of Des Moines, Natalie (Anthony) McBride, of Clive, and Jill (Scott) Harlan, of Waterloo; nine grandchildren, Nathan (Rachelle) Gaulke, Lauren Gaulke, Logan (Kindra) Gaulke, Mark (Annaliesa) McBride, Jeff (Nicole) McBride, Meghan McBride, Colin McBride, Cameron Harlan and Alexis Harlan; four great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Jason Gaulke, and Savannah and Jacob McBride; two brothers, Roger Gaulke, of Dows, and Lowell (Karen) Gaulke, of Mount Pleasant; and many relatives and special friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Karen Gaulke; and one sister-in-law, Ardith Gaulke. Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Lynn and his family.

Ames Tribune -- Ames, iowa
March 17, 2014