Norma Jean Gehling, 88, of Carroll, died Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at the Hawkeye Care Center in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Mass servers will be: Kylie Schroeder, Michaela Sturm, and Meghan Sturm. Music will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir with John Wagner as soloist. Lectors for the funeral mass will be Norma Jean’s granddaughters: Jill Running, Melanie Daniel, Sosie Gehling, Alison Schroeder. Gift Bearers will be Norma Jean’s granddaughters: Gretchen Bavlnka, Casey Coulter, Holly Venteicher, Lindsey Gehling, Sada Gehling, and Rebecca Schroeder. Eucharistic Minister will be Don Masching. Casket Bearers will be Norma Jean’s grandsons’: Jerry Gehling II, Ted Gehling, Nick Coulter, Jason Gehling, Ryan Gehling, Steve Pudenz, Seth Gehling, Stone Gehling, Joseph Schaefer, and Joshua Schaefer. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Friends may call at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll after 4:30 p.m. on Friday where there will be a rosary at 5 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning at the church until time of the funeral mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Norma Jean’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on February 4, 1927 at Breda, Iowa, Norma Jean was the daughter of Edmund and Agnes (Heisterkamp) Schulte. She spent her younger years in the Breda area and later graduated from St. Bernard’s High School. On June 19, 1945, Norma Jean was united in marriage to Frank J. Gehling at Breda, Iowa.
The couple made their home south of Carroll where Frank was engaged in grain and livestock farming. Norma Jean was a homemaker, worked at St. Anthony Hospital as Ward Clerk and also worked with her daughter Jackie at Bridal Country in Carroll.
Norma Jean enjoyed sewing, woodworking, baking, and canning various foods. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and hosting family gatherings. Norma Jean was a member of Holy Spirit Parish and Parish Ladies Guild.
Survivors include her children: Sharon (Charles) Coulter of St. Louis, MO, Dennis (Patty) Gehling of Carroll, Jackie (Randy) Pudenz of Carroll, Mark (Stacy) Gehling of Carroll and Marcia Schaefer and her fiancé Jeff Scott of Wall Lake; her daughter-in-law, Corlys Gehling of Omaha; 20 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; her sister: Pam (John) McCaslin of Omaha; her brother: Darwin (Kay) Schulte of West Des Moines; her sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Lucille Jackley of Sun City, FL, Freda Barron of Niles, MI, John (Marjorie) Gehling of Atlantic, Donna Gehling of Carroll and Irma Gehling of Carroll; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Norma Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Frank Gehling; her son Dr. Gerald Gehling; her son-in-law, Dale Schaefer; her grandson, Nicholas Gehling; her great-granddaughter, Samantha Gehling; and her sisters: Doris Boes and Nelda Wolterman.
