Shawna Lee Gackle

Early morning Tuesday, February 21st, Shawna was carried to heaven by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her battle with cystic fibrosis, a double lung transplant, cancer and various infections came to a peaceful end with family & friends surrounding as she left this earthly body at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC.
Shawna was born to Dave and Carol Gackle on March 12th, 1984. She graduated Kulm High School in 2002. She then was accepted into University of Mary in Bismarck, ND where she studied Sports Medicine. After a brief stop in Colorado to obtain a certification in equine massage, Shawna returned to U of M to complete her degree in 2007. Her true love was horses and consequently decided to work as a wrangler at various ranches in CO, AZ, and WY from 2007-2009. Shawna went on to start an equine massage business in 2009 and traveled all over the U.S. forming relationships and growing her business. After competing her whole life in barrel racing, she stumbled upon a new love...mounted shooting. Not only did she compete in mounted shooting, but she also made many friends and key relationships. She truly fell in love with the family-like atmosphere of both the ranches she worked for and the mounted shooting community. In 2014, Shawna was given the gift of extended life by receiving a double lung transplant. The next 3 and 1/2 years brought both triumphs and tribulations. She was blessed to be an intricate part of her niece's 1st year of life as she nannied in CO in 2015 & 16. However, she also battled cancer, rejection, and various serious infections. She went home to Jesus on February 21st, 2017. We all will miss her infectious smile, laugh, and positive attitude in living life to the fullest.
She is survived by her parents Dave & Carol Gackle: Sister Tarah (Jacob) Post: Grandparents Bill & Marilyn Gackle, Ray Busch: Uncles Jim (Jill) Busch, Fred (Linda) Gackle, Jon (Tonya) Gackle: Aunt Mary Zenker: Niece Emmeline Post: and many dear cousins, 2nd cousins & friends. It is also important to note her favorite horses, Wally & Boogie, which still reside at the family farm. Shawna was preceded in death by Grandma Marjorie Busch and close friend James Carter.
Funeral services will be held March 4th at 1:00 PM at the new Kulm High School Gymnasium. A prayer service will be at 7:00 PM, Friday, March 3 at the Kulm Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers the family prefers any donations be made to the North Dakota Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Online guest book: www.eddyfuneralhome.com

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