George Elwyn GASKILL

GASKILL, BRAVINDER, CHAPMAN, CROCKETT, DOUGLASS, STICHA, SCHMIDT, STANTON, BAILEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/18/2009 at 13:54:42

Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
March 1, 2005

CORWITH — George Elwyn Gaskill, 92, prominent Corwith-area farmer and long-time pioneer supporter of rural electrification in Iowa, died Monday (Feb. 28, 2005) at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt. A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Corwith United Methodist Church with Pastor Dan Fernandez officiating. Interment will be at the Corwith Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home in Corwith, with Masonic services at 7 p.m. There will be further visitation one hour prior to services on Friday at the church.

George was born May 24, 1912, at the family farm south of Corwith, the son of Elwyn Guy and Winnifred (Bravinder) Gaskill. He was a graduate of Corwith High School and attended Iowa State College before returning home to help his father save the family farm during the Depression years. On June 29, 1933, George was united in marriage with Mildred Chapman, a Renwick school teacher who grew up in Prescott, Iowa. The wedding took place in Mayville, Mo. To this union two children were born. George had broad interests, but farming and family were the primary focus of his life. He acquired a strong interest in rural electrification from his father, who was instrumental in bringing electricity to the rural community, including the Gaskill farm. In 1947, George was appointed to fill his father's position on the Hancock County REC board, a post that he held for many years. He also served on the Cornbelt Regional REC board and later was elected state president of the Iowa Association of Electric Co-ops. His interests in the community included strong support for the local schools, the Corwith United Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge, the co-op elevator and the small businesses in town. He was one of the founders of the Corwith State Bank, where he served on the board of directors for many years. George was a 92-year member of the Corwith United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities. He was also a 33rd Degree Mason in the Masonic Lodge and a member of the Shriners. In retirement, the "Corwith morning coffee club" was an important part of his daily routine. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and travel.

He and Mildred cherished their five grandchildren and provided strong advice and guidance at frequent family gatherings. George was an avid supporter of the Corwith community all his life. When he moved to the Summit House Apartments in Britt two and one-half years ago, he refused to change his Corwith address, saying "I was born in Corwith, I have lived there all my life, and I'll die a resident of Corwith."

George is survived by his two children: a son, E. Thurman and wife, Geraldine, of Corwith; daughter, Georgia Crockett and husband, Paul, of Minneapolis; five grandchildren: Beth Anne Gaskill Douglass (David), of Bellevue, Wash.; Mark Gaskill (Sandra), of Chesterfield, Mo.; Major David Gaskill (Rebecca), of LaVista, Neb.; Andrea Crockett Sticha (Timothy), of Plymouth, Minn.; and Allison Crockett Schmidt (Mark), of Simsbury, Conn.; 10 great-grandchildren: Zachary and Benjamin Douglass, Peyton and Jonah Gaskill (Chesterfield, Mo.), Mikaela and Preston Gaskill, Matthew and Sean Sticha, and Katherine and William Schmidt. Other survivors include a sister-in-law, Mrs. William (Beatrice) Gaskill of Stuart; a nephew, Gilbert Gaskill of Des Moines; a niece, Winnifred Gaskill of Stuart; and many cousins. Preceding George in death were his parents and his wife, Mildred; one brother, William; one sister, Marjorie Gaskill Stanton and her husband, Wallace, and their daughter, Judith Stanton Bailey; and an infant grandson, James Scott Gaskill. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or the Corwith United Methodist Church.