Gayle Ann Johnson

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m, Tuesday at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Emmetsburg. Burial is in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday at the Joyce Funeral Home in Emmetsburg. A memorial fund has been established in Gayle's name. Gayle Ann Johnson was born March 14, 1965, in Valparaiso, IN, the daughter of Richard "Dick" and Mary Sue (Janssen) Shearer. She attended elementary and junior high school in Storm Lake, IA and graduated from high school in Pocahontas, IA in 1983. Gayle was united in marriage to Christopher Schmeling on October 1, 1988 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Emmetsburg, a union that resulted in their two children. They then separated in 2003. She worked for many years at Kathleen's Residential Care in Emmetsburg, and for the past five years, Gayle had been a para-educator at the Emmetsburg Community School District. On September 1, 2013, Gayle was united in marriage to Craig Johnson at the Lost Island Nature Center north of Ruthven. Gayle was an avid reader and she, along with other school faculty members, met monthly for book club. She enjoyed cooking, playing games (especially Skip-Bo with family) and...[more]

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rking crossword puzzles. Gayle was always very involved in the activities of her children volunteering as a boy scout leader, girl scout leader and youth group leader at Bethany Lutheran Church, where she was a member. She enjoyed watching the E-hawks and her children play sports and participate in various other school activities; more than anything, she loved to spend time with her family and friends. Gayle has touched so many lives before and during her courageous battle with cancer. She will be remembered for her positive attitude, her selflessness and her infectious smile. On Friday, September 13, 2013, Gayle passed away at the Lakeside Lutheran Home. She was 48. Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Craig of Emmetsburg; son, Tyler Schmeling and fiancé, Paige Zimmerman of De Pere, WI, and daughter, Molli Schmeling of Emmetsburg; father, Dick Shearer of Pocahontas; three brothers: Rick Shearer and wife, Bernadette of St. Paul, MN, Bob Shearer and wife, Julie of Des Moines and Jeff Shearer and wife, Kammi of Pocahontas; and step-daughter, Whitney Johnson of Houston, TX. She was preceded in death by her mother, Sue; grandmother, Mary Lundberg; nephews: Ryan and Aiden Shearer and her cousin, Kyle Martin.