In loving memory of

Gail L. Kurriger
November 6, 1952 - July 2, 2017

GAIL KURRIGER
MUSCATINE, Iowa - Gail L. Kurriger, 64, of Muscatine, passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2017, at Pearl Valley Rehab.

There will be no visitation or services. Memorials may be made to Friends of the Animals - A No Time Limit Shelter, PO Box 383, in Tipton, IA 52772. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Gail was born on November 6, 1952, in Muscatine, the daughter of Clinton Charles and Margaret Louise Hahn Kurriger.

She was employed at the University of Iowa in Orthopedic Research. She loved to read, especially items pertaining to history.

Those left to honor her memory include her sister, Susan Sissel of Eldridge; one nephew, C. J. Sissel and wife, Stephanie, of Walcott, two great-nieces, Janet Walmsley and Shelby Sissel; and a very special friend, Elaine Petersen of Muscatine.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Tributes

Jose Moreno wrote on Jul 9, 2020:

"I just learned of Gail's passing today. Gail was a wonderful soul which was extremely kind to me on my first arrival to the USA. She teach me so much. She used to bake cookies with her mom every Sunday just for me. I enjoy our talks, laughs about my funny accent. I never forgot her kindness and profound generosity. I hope there are squirrels on heaven because she will be feeding them and playing with them. Take care my friend. "

Alan Daedlow wrote on Jul 3, 2018:

"I just learned of Gail's passing today. I worked with Gail at the Tipton Friends of Animals years ago and will miss her greatly. Homeless animals never had a better friend than Gail and there is a special place in Heaven for her. How can her compasssion ever be replaced..? "

Steven Bloomer wrote on Jun 1, 2018:

"Unfortunately, I'm just now learning of Gail's passing. Gail Kurriger taught me everything I know about histology. She was gracious enough to teach me the process of immunostaining from start to finish and then supervised me while I did batches on my own. She was kind, patient, and immensely talented! I always thought that she worked some kind of magic on the slides ? there was never any doubt that she could get an antibody to work. Also, her coverslipping abilities were unparalleled ? always the right amount of mounting media and no excess! She always joked that she had an extra little ?nub? on her finger that allowed her to coverslip so well. Gail had a unique way of explaining things that I will remember with fondness. Once I asked Gail, ?Should we use distilled water for these rinse steps?? She replied, ?No, our little guys don?t need that.? She was also a no-nonsense person who had high expectations of her pupils. I remember the look she gave me during our first meeting when I showed her a poorly-stained slide with methyl green counterstain. She said ?What the heck did you do to this tissue??? Luckily, she was gracious enough to teach me how eliminate the background and get my staining to work. Not only has she touched my life, but also the lives of my students. I have so many good stories about Gail, our staining adventures, and how she would perform experiments, that she is a legend in my lab. ?Gail always did it this way, and if that?s how Gail does it, then that?s how we?re doing it, too,? I tell my students. After I left Iowa, I would send histology questions to Gail often, and she would reply almost immediately. Her influence is clear in my publications. While I?m biased, I don?t think I will ever meet a better histotechnologist. Her loss leaves a true void in my life, but her legacy remains. Whenever I stain, I think about you, so you?ll always be around. May you rest in peace, Gail. "

Sonja Smith wrote on Jul 26, 2017:

"Gail was very friendly and always ready to teach others. She was an extremely skilled histotechnologist and researcher, and she cared a great deal about her work and educating others to further scientific discoveries. She always had a funny story to share about her kitties, too! I will miss her."