Gayle Pauline Mcelmeel (Rath)
January 23, 1918 — March 18, 2010
Gayle Pauline Rath McElmeel, 92, died March 18, 2010 at the Good Neighbor Home, Manchester, Iowa following a short illness.
Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m.. Monday, March 22, 2010 at the First Lutheran Church in Manchester by Rev. Dr. Jean Rabary. Family will greet friends from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Sunday, March 21, 2010 at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester, Iowa. Inurnment will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Manchester.
Gayle was born January 23, 1918 in Dundee, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Martha (Woellert) Rath. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Dundee. Her family later moved to the Manchester area where she became a member of the First Lutheran Church and was confirmed by Rev. W. A. Adix. Gayle attended country schools in Honey Creek Township and graduated from Manchester High School in 1936.
On August 20, 1936, Gayle was united in marriage to Walter McElmeel in Edgewood, Iowa. The couple farmed in Honey Creek Township for 23 years before retiring to Manchester. They were full-time travel trailer people for nearly 16 years before moving to Trophy Gardens RV Park in Alamo, Texas in 1984.
Gayle was active in church at Trophy Gardens where she served for 7 years as secretary. She was a hospice volunteer in San Juan, Texas. Gayle enjoyed making quilts for the needy with the C.F.O. Group (Caring For Others) in Trophy Gardens. After returning to Manchester in 2001, Gayle volunteered at the Good Neighbor Home, First Lutheran Church and the McGee School renovation.
Gayle is survived by several nieces and nephews and many friends.
Gayle was preceded in death by her parents, Charles & Martha Rath; her husband, Walter McElmeel on December 23, 1995; three brothers, Raymond in infancy, Henry and Lawrence Rath; and two sisters, Frances Mattice and Dora Parrott.
Please sign the online guestbook for Gayle at www.murdochfuneralhome.com .
Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m.. Monday, March 22, 2010 at the First Lutheran Church in Manchester by Rev. Dr. Jean Rabary. Family will greet friends from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Sunday, March 21, 2010 at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester, Iowa. Inurnment will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Manchester.
Gayle was born January 23, 1918 in Dundee, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Martha (Woellert) Rath. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Dundee. Her family later moved to the Manchester area where she became a member of the First Lutheran Church and was confirmed by Rev. W. A. Adix. Gayle attended country schools in Honey Creek Township and graduated from Manchester High School in 1936.
On August 20, 1936, Gayle was united in marriage to Walter McElmeel in Edgewood, Iowa. The couple farmed in Honey Creek Township for 23 years before retiring to Manchester. They were full-time travel trailer people for nearly 16 years before moving to Trophy Gardens RV Park in Alamo, Texas in 1984.
Gayle was active in church at Trophy Gardens where she served for 7 years as secretary. She was a hospice volunteer in San Juan, Texas. Gayle enjoyed making quilts for the needy with the C.F.O. Group (Caring For Others) in Trophy Gardens. After returning to Manchester in 2001, Gayle volunteered at the Good Neighbor Home, First Lutheran Church and the McGee School renovation.
Gayle is survived by several nieces and nephews and many friends.
Gayle was preceded in death by her parents, Charles & Martha Rath; her husband, Walter McElmeel on December 23, 1995; three brothers, Raymond in infancy, Henry and Lawrence Rath; and two sisters, Frances Mattice and Dora Parrott.
Please sign the online guestbook for Gayle at www.murdochfuneralhome.com .
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