Ronald Gavle

Ronald E. Gavle, 79, of Waukon died Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Monday, February 16 at the Waukon Banquet Center in Waukon, with Rev. Ronald Pederson officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Big Canoe Cemetery, rural Decorah.
Ronald Eugene Gavle was born September 19, 1935 in Decorah, the son of Norris and Frances (Osmundson) Gavle. He grew up on the family farm north of town, attended rural elementary schools and Decorah High School. Ron later earned his GED while in the service. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 until 1956 seeing some of that duty as a helicopter mechanic in Germany.
Following his discharge he returned to northeast Iowa, where January 6, 1957 he married Beverly Ione Quandahl at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church near Dorchester. They moved to Beloit, WI, where Ron worked for Fairbanks Morrison Manufacturing and had a delivery route for Omar Bakery. After a year they returned to rural Decorah, where he operated Ron’s Milling & Feed and then Ron’s Grain Service. For four years Ron and Bev both were over the road truckers traveling to most all parts of the USA and enjoyed exploring many interesting places along the way. Ron loved all aspects of trucking and helped a lot of younger people he met get into the business.
Ron also had a long career driving buses. He drove school bus for North Winneshiek School for 13 years and since 2010 has been driving for Allamakee Community Schools. In addition he was a part-time driver for Hawkeye Stages commercial bus line. For 35 years Ron and Bev also farmed in Quandahl, operating a Jersey dairy herd. After selling the farm in 2001 they moved to and served as custodians for the Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. Since December of 2009 they have lived in Waukon.
Ron was always active in church in the various places he lived and currently was a member of King of Grace Lutheran Church in Waukon. He was also a member of the VFW. He enjoyed playing cards and having coffee with his friends, spending time with his dog, Betts, and any chance he got to get together with family.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly, of Waukon; four children, Lowell (Susan) Gavle of Waukon, Roxanne Larson of Howell, MI, Barbara (David) Henry of Highlandville and Lee Gavle of Waukon; nine grandchildren, Ryan, Kirsten, Ashley Kay, Cory, Josh, Andrew, Ashley Sue, Allison and Austin; eight great-grandchildren, Hayley, Kayley, Madison, Jake, Joshua, Ali, Nicholas and Michael; two brothers, Burton (Emma) Gavle and Vernon (Sandy) Gavle, both of Decorah; a sister, Ruth Ann Pladsen of Waukon; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Ozzie (Phyllis) Quandahl and Roger (Mary) Quandahl, both of Waukon, Eloise (Delbert) Bulman and Sandra (Gordon) Tangen, both of Dorchester, Naomi Ferguson of Hawaii, and Marsha Stroh of Waterloo; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; a son, Donald; and brothers and sisters-in-law: David (Norma) Gavle, Kathryn Gavle, Cletus Pladsen, Paul (Carol) Quandahl, Richard (Ruth) Quandahl and Roger Ferguson.
Casketbearers were Ben Stroh, Quentin Quandahl, Terry Ryan, Kevin Anderson, Tony Schulte, Ryan Larson, Andrew Eberling and Austin Brink. All of Ron’s many friends were honorary casketbearers. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.