Agnes "Aggie" Gaul
July 7, 1933 — November 1, 2016
Agnes (Aggie) Marie Gaul, daughter of William and Anna Schulte was born on July 7, 1933 in Westphalia, Iowa. She attended St. Joseph School in Earling and graduated from high school in 1951. Aggie loved sports and was one of the first cheerleaders at St. Joseph … but she actually preferred playing basketball rather than cheering from the sidelines.
After graduating from high school, she worked locally with her father in his business and also in the central office and enjoyed fun times with her friends. She began exchanging letters with Leo Gaul who was in the Air Force. After his discharge from the Air Force, this relationship truly began and they were married on June 11, 1956. On this day they pledged to help each other get to heaven and in June of 2016 they celebrated their 60th anniversary.
They began their life together living for a short while in Sioux City, Iowa where Leo was a TV repairman. After about six months, they were given an opportunity for an adventure and picked up and moved to Seattle, Washington where Leo started working for Boeing Aircraft. While in Washington their first two children were born. After a couple of years, the distance from family became more difficult and they made the decision to move back to Earling where Leo joined his brother in business. After their return to Earling, three more children were born. After her children were in school, Aggie began working as a Nurses Aide at the Little Flower Haven in Earling. During her time there she also worked in the kitchen as a dishwasher.
Aggie and Leo always shared a deep spiritual life and in 1971 began studying together early on in the Deaconate program in the Des Moines Diocese. Even though it was Leo who was ordained a permanent deacon, this was very much about Aggie and Leo together. After this training, Aggie began her work at St. Joseph School as a paraprofessional teaching religion. During her time at St. Joseph she touched the lives of many kids who enjoyed her energy. In 1999 Aggie and Leo sold their home in Earling and moved to Harlan to retire.
Aggie loved music and dancing. During Leo and Aggie's early years they took square dancing lessons, round dancing lessons and even took some ballroom dancing lessons. In their retirement years, they learned and loved line dancing with their friends. She played piano and loved being part of the liturgy team at both St. Joseph and St. Michaels. Music was a part of every get together at her family home. Even during her last weeks at Elm Crest, everyone was aware of the music always playing her room.
Aggie was always outspoken and never afraid to speak her mind … even if it wasn't what everyone else agreed with. She was active in supporting social justice and enjoyed serving people. She loved her kids and always made some special time with each of her 18 grandchildren. Grandma Aggie got right in and "played" with them. She loved basketball and baseball and was an avid Chicago Cubs fan.
Aggie passed away at Elm Crest Nursing Home very peacefully surrounded by family and music. She was 83 years old and married to Leo, the love of her life, for 60 years!
Aggie was preceded in death by her son Greg, her parents and many of her siblings.
She is survived by her husband Leo and her children Mary and her husband Denny Petersen of Jacksonville, Tim and his wife Peg of Ames, Cindy and her husband Andy Assmann of Omaha, Susie and her husband Paul Mahlberg of Olathe, KS, and daughter-In-law Nan and her husband Chris Crawford of Des Moines. She is also survived by three of her siblings: Alice Carey of Harlan, Theresa Blum of Walnut and Paul Schulte and his wife Aggie of Carroll.
She also survived by her 18 grandchildren: Ben (Stacey) Gaul, Danny (Jenny) Assmann, Abby Gaul, Gina (Brent) Lorkovic, Alyssa Mahlberg, Becky Assmann, Dylan Petersen, Jenna Mahlberg, Simon (Abbie) Gaul, Eric Assmann, Eli Gaul, Annie Mahlberg, Faye Assmann, Susie Gaul, Sally Gaul, Clara Gaul, Frannie Gaul and Alice Gaul. Zachary Gaul is her first great grandchild.
After graduating from high school, she worked locally with her father in his business and also in the central office and enjoyed fun times with her friends. She began exchanging letters with Leo Gaul who was in the Air Force. After his discharge from the Air Force, this relationship truly began and they were married on June 11, 1956. On this day they pledged to help each other get to heaven and in June of 2016 they celebrated their 60th anniversary.
They began their life together living for a short while in Sioux City, Iowa where Leo was a TV repairman. After about six months, they were given an opportunity for an adventure and picked up and moved to Seattle, Washington where Leo started working for Boeing Aircraft. While in Washington their first two children were born. After a couple of years, the distance from family became more difficult and they made the decision to move back to Earling where Leo joined his brother in business. After their return to Earling, three more children were born. After her children were in school, Aggie began working as a Nurses Aide at the Little Flower Haven in Earling. During her time there she also worked in the kitchen as a dishwasher.
Aggie and Leo always shared a deep spiritual life and in 1971 began studying together early on in the Deaconate program in the Des Moines Diocese. Even though it was Leo who was ordained a permanent deacon, this was very much about Aggie and Leo together. After this training, Aggie began her work at St. Joseph School as a paraprofessional teaching religion. During her time at St. Joseph she touched the lives of many kids who enjoyed her energy. In 1999 Aggie and Leo sold their home in Earling and moved to Harlan to retire.
Aggie loved music and dancing. During Leo and Aggie's early years they took square dancing lessons, round dancing lessons and even took some ballroom dancing lessons. In their retirement years, they learned and loved line dancing with their friends. She played piano and loved being part of the liturgy team at both St. Joseph and St. Michaels. Music was a part of every get together at her family home. Even during her last weeks at Elm Crest, everyone was aware of the music always playing her room.
Aggie was always outspoken and never afraid to speak her mind … even if it wasn't what everyone else agreed with. She was active in supporting social justice and enjoyed serving people. She loved her kids and always made some special time with each of her 18 grandchildren. Grandma Aggie got right in and "played" with them. She loved basketball and baseball and was an avid Chicago Cubs fan.
Aggie passed away at Elm Crest Nursing Home very peacefully surrounded by family and music. She was 83 years old and married to Leo, the love of her life, for 60 years!
Aggie was preceded in death by her son Greg, her parents and many of her siblings.
She is survived by her husband Leo and her children Mary and her husband Denny Petersen of Jacksonville, Tim and his wife Peg of Ames, Cindy and her husband Andy Assmann of Omaha, Susie and her husband Paul Mahlberg of Olathe, KS, and daughter-In-law Nan and her husband Chris Crawford of Des Moines. She is also survived by three of her siblings: Alice Carey of Harlan, Theresa Blum of Walnut and Paul Schulte and his wife Aggie of Carroll.
She also survived by her 18 grandchildren: Ben (Stacey) Gaul, Danny (Jenny) Assmann, Abby Gaul, Gina (Brent) Lorkovic, Alyssa Mahlberg, Becky Assmann, Dylan Petersen, Jenna Mahlberg, Simon (Abbie) Gaul, Eric Assmann, Eli Gaul, Annie Mahlberg, Faye Assmann, Susie Gaul, Sally Gaul, Clara Gaul, Frannie Gaul and Alice Gaul. Zachary Gaul is her first great grandchild.
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