Ella Gogel

Ella Mae Gogel, 82 years, Cedar Falls, Iowa, died at the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home Monday, May 31, 2010, of natural causes. She was born November 24, 1927 on a farm near Delphos, Ohio, daughter of Edward L. and Helen (Renner) Gerdeman. She married Kenneth Grant Gogel on June 23, 1951 in Delphos, Ohio. Kenneth Gogel died on June 27, 1991. Survivors include her children: Stephen and Cheryl Gogel of Waterloo, IA, Matthew and Linda Gogel of Cedar Falls, IA, Michael Gogel and Kitt Jackson of New Hartford, IA, Anne Barghini-De Perry and Preston Johnson of St. Paul, MN, Tamara and Rick Hall of Knoxville, TN, and Gretchen and Dan Huetteman of St. Michael, MN. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Nicholas and Sophia Barghini, Skyler De Perry, Alexandrea "Lexi" and Megan Hall, and Megan Ann and Julia Mae Huetteman. There are two step-grandsons: Major and Solomon Barber; and four great-grandchildren: Major Jr., Makayla, Myles, and Alicia Barber. Other survivors are two brothers: Earl and Bill Gerdeman of Delphos, OH; and a sister, Janice Kaskocsak of Dayton, OH. She was preceded in death by her father, mother and an infant brother, Robert C. Gerdeman. Ella Mae received her education at Mary Manse College, Toledo, Ohio, Ohio State University and the University of Northern Iowa. She taught fourth grade in Glandorf, OH, high school classes in Cedar Falls, IA, and parenting classes in Dunkerton and Waverly, IA. Ella Mae was a founding member of the Black Hawk County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities. She and Kenneth were co-presidents during the association's first years. She was a member of the Board of Directors for Area Education Agency 7 (AEA 267) from August 1974, when Iowa's Area Education Agencies were established. Ella Mae served as president of the AEA 7 (AEA 267) board for eight years. For five years she was president of the Iowa Council of Area Education Boards and for eight years she represented the Iowa AEA boards as a board member of the Iowa Association of School Boards. In 1985, Ella Mae was awarded the Justus A. Prentice award by the American Association of Educational Service Agencies for "Distinguished Service and Outstanding Contributions to Education Service Agencies and American Education". She was a co-founder and for six years, the first president of the Friends of KUNI/KHKE, the University of Northern Iowa's public radio stations. For ten years, Ella Mae was a consultant for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the areas of development, volunteerism, and fund-raising. Since 1977, Ella Mae was a board member and Parent Coordinator for the National Association for the Gifted (TAG). In 1983, she received the Certificate of Merit from the National Council for Exceptional Children "In Appreciation of your Dedication and Service to Gifted Children". In 1988, Ella Mae received the Distinguished Service Award from the Iowa Talented and Gifted Association. She was a frequent speaker on parenting skills and advocacy for children with special needs. Ella Mae served for many years on the Exceptional Persons board as well as the Permanent Planning and Community United Child Care Center boards. Her body was deeded to the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. Richardson Funeral Home, Cedar Falls, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at their website: www.richardsonfuneralservice.com. Memorials may be made to St. Stephen's Catholic Student Center, the Friends of KUNI/KHKE public radio, Exceptional Persons, or St. Patricks Catholic Church. A memorial service will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010 at St. Steven the Witness Catholic Student Center, 1019 W. 23rd Street, Cedar Falls.