Gayle Pasieka

Gayle Pasieka, 93, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2023 at Manor Court in Peru, Illinois.

Private funeral services will be at the Hurst Funeral Home in Tonica with Rev. Phil Jackson, pastor of the Tonica United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery.

Gayle was born to William and Alma(Ross) Lohr in their home in Tonica, Illinois on June 17, 1930.  She was the youngest of 12 children.  She attended school and raised her family in Tonica.

Gayle was a telephone operator in Tonica in the 1940s, a time when callers numbers were single digits.  She met Joseph Pasieka while working at Tonica Milk Products in Ticona. Joe Pasieka Sr. and Gayle were married in 1951 when Joe returned from his duty with the Army during the Korean War. Gayle and Joe then worked together on their farm south of Tonica for over 40 years.  She also was a rural mail carrier for many years.

Family and friends enjoyed helping Gayle increase her whimsical collection of Elmer Fudd. Gardening and peonies were also activities she enjoyed. She continued the tradition of raising peonies the same as her father who was Tonica’s florist. Even though Gayle enjoyed flowers, her family was her greatest joy. She loved being a mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Seeing her family succeed gave her immense pride and joy. 

Gayle is survived by her three children John (and Christie)  Pasieka of Oglesby, Linda (and Gary Feucht) of Arvada, CO, and Donna Jo (and Mark Arnold) of Eagle, CO, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren survive her as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was immensely proud of the achievements of the family she and Joe created. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Pasieka Sr. in 1993, her second husband Harold Nagel in 2004, and her eleven siblings. 

Gayle’s grandchildren are her pallbearers.

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