Florence Gehling

Monday, March 15, 2021 12:14 pm

Florence Gehling, age 86 of Decorah, died March 13, 2021 at Ossian Senior Hospice after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer.

A private family service will be held at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah, IA. With Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will be in the St. Benedict’s cemetery. Cards may be sent to her family at: 2170 Co. Rd. B32, Ossian, IA 52161.

Florence Madelyn (Short) was born on Aug. 22, 1934 to Carl and Florence (Clabby) Short, the youngest of three children.  Florence attended grade school at Jesup Consolidated school. In 1947, her family moved to Waterloo. She attended High School at Our Lady of Victory Academy and graduated in 1952. Florence was employed at Black Hawk County Mental Health Center until she married Edward Gehling on Nov. 27, 1954.  Together they had seven children.

Ed and Florence farmed most of their lives near Calmar Florence was active in the farming operation while also caring for their children. They later divorced in 1994. Florence enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. She also loved to read, enjoyed flower gardening, painting, crocheting, taking walks and bike riding.

She was a member of the Catholic Daughters and St. Benedicts parish, Silver Springs Country Club, Ossian.

Florence is survived by her seven children, Christine (Gerald) Moellers, Cresco; Nancy (Arnold) Markin, Decorah; Kathy (Terry) Kuennen, Fort Atkinson; Julie (David) Hemesath, Fort Atkinson; Jennifer (Bill) Hageman, Ossian; Nick (Linda) Gehling, Decorah; Dave (Lucy) Gehling, Decorah.  Grandchildren Sarah (Scott) Kach; Jessica Meyer (Mike Heidt); Jolene (Josh) Langreck; Jennifer (John) Fish; Chad (Renee) Schissel; Travis (Allisa) Schissel; Lee (Jill) Schissel; Joshua (Kim) Kuennen; Kristi (Landon) Holthaus; Chelsea (Brady) Severson; Matthew (Dawn) Hemesath; Michael (Stacey) Hemesath; Nathan (Lauren) Hemesath; Jackie (Regan) Becker; Mitch (Danielle) Hageman; Tanner (Allison) Gehling; Alyssa Gehling; Kurtis, Samantha and Rachael Gehling.  Great-grandchildren Clair, James and Cora Kach, Taylor Meyer, Abigail and Victoria Heidt, step-grandchildren Alex and Elena Heidt, Hayden Langreck, Charlotte Fish, Laylah and Vienna Schissel, Keeran Barr, Riley, Jade and Wyatt Kuennen, Braylon, Kynslee, Emersyn and Grayson Holthaus, Lennon and Shay Severson, Alessandra and Austin Hemesath, Elizabeth and Kaleb Hemesath, Claire, Charlie and Luke Becker, Clayton and Levi Hageman, Brock and Brody Gehling.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents: Carl and Florence (Clabby) Short.  Sisters: Barbara (Robert) Hummel and Sally (Lester) Sevcik.