Marilyn B Gackle

Marilyn Bernice (Goehner) Gackle, Kulm, ND, was born to Martin and Hulda (Rempfer) Goehner on their farm in rural Dickey County, North Dakota on April 2, 1931. Marilyn grew up with two brothers and spoke only German at home. When she finished school, she helped her parents on the farm and worked for a short time as a clerk for Emil Anderson’s store in Kulm. On August 20, 1950, Marilyn married William Gackle and became the better half of Bill’s farm operation.

Marilyn was faithful, hardworking, and devoted to her family. Together, she and Bill had four children: Frederick, David, Mary Alice, and Jonathan. There was no task in farming or family that she did not do, and each one she met with grace and ability. Her efficiency was sometimes hard to fathom, but in all her efforts, she never questioned a job that needed to be done or spoke a word of complaint. Bill pursued many opportunities with full faith in Marilyn’s ability to manage all the needs at home, including milking cows, feed grinding, fence fixing, swathing, haying, feeding the cows, feeding the kids, and everything else in between.

In addition to farm and family, Marilyn was a generous community member, frequently delivering baked goods to neighbors; a founder and first president of the Harmony Homemakers of Kulm in 1954; and a longtime member of the former District 28 Republican Women’s Organization. She was also a faithful church member, and served with Bill as Youth Fellowship Leaders at First Congregational Church, Kulm in the late 1960s. In 1981-83, she finally entered semi-retirement and traveled the world with Bill during his term as Director of Lions Club International.

In 2006 Marilyn was one of six finalists for Farm and Ranch Guide’s Country Woman of the Year, a title she never sought, but certainly a tribute to the life she lived.

Marilyn was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2005, but it was slow to progress. Despite increasing forgetfulness in recent years, she graciously welcomed every visitor with a smile, and, true to her character, never complained of her situation. She was always grateful, and would remind others of her good fortune, even if she could only “wiggle and walk”. She loved listening to music, especially a good German polka, and would sing along at every opportunity.

Marilyn passed away on October 5, 2020 at Ave Maria Village, Jamestown, ND. She was preceded in death by her mother and father; brother, Marvin Goehner; and granddaughter, Shawna Gackle and infant great granddaughter, Mercedes Zenker.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; brother, Curt (Darlene) Goehner; sister-in-law, Florence Goehner; children, Fred (Linda) Gackle, Dave (Carol) Gackle, Mary (Gackle) Zenker, and Jon (Tonya) Gackle; Joel Zenker; 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and special family friend LeAnn Pollert

Visitation: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown and one hour before each service at the church.

Celebration of Life Service: 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 11, 2020 at First Congregational Church, Kulm, ND.

Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Monday, October 12, 2020 at First Congregational Church, Kulm.

Burial: Kulm Congregational Cemetery, Kulm.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, First Congregational Church in Kulm, Jamestown Regional Medical Center, and Ave Maria Village.

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