Rosella Gauger

Rosella Gauger age 89 of New Hampton, Iowa died Monday afternoon, September 24, 2012, at the Liebe Care Center in Greene, IA. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Hampton with Pastor kevin Frey officiating. Congregational hymns will be 'Just As I Am', 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives' and 'Jesus Loves Me'. Interment will be in the New Hampton City Cemetery with Greg Gauger, Lance Swancutt, Bob Messersmith and David Kraft as pallbearers. Friends may greet the family 4 - 7 p.m. Monday, October 1, 2012, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation continues one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. In life Rosella Faye (Swancutt) Gauger was born on December 12, 1922, on a farm located in Howard County between Chester and Lime Springs, Iowa. She was the daughter of Orville Franklin and Alta Janetta (Elliott) Swancutt. Rosella was the fifth child of eleven children. She attended rural schools in Howard County. At the beginning of her high school years the family moved to Charles City Iowa, where she graduated in 1941. On January 14, 1942, she was united in marriage to Ralph Gauger and then made her home in New Hampton, Iowa. To this union two sons were born, Arvid and Gary. The couple farmed for ten years before moving into town. Rosella worked at Powell's Variety Store and then had the opportunity to become the baker at the public schools, both elementary and high schools, where she remained until she retired. Rosella loved to read, visit with friends and family, play cards, needlework, and continued her love of baking. In her later years, her eyesight failing, she had to give up many of her hobbies. In 1996, her husband, Ralph died at the age of 79. Rosella remained in her home until she sold it and then moved to The Miller Apartments. In 2011, she moved to Whispering Willow Assisted Living in Fredericksburg. Rosella is survived by her two sons, Arvid (Elaine) Gauger of The Colony, TX and Gary (Jeanne) Gauger of Springfield, MO; two grandchildren, Greg (Noemi) Gauger and Kimberly Rausch; four great grandchildren, Adam (Heather) Rausch, David (Mariana) Rausch and Ashley Rausch and Jayden Gauger; two great great grandchildren (Pressley and Pandora Rausch). She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sons in infancy; five brothers, Ralph, Murl, Calvin, Dellbert and Roger Swancutt; five sisters, Edith Swancutt, Beaulah Steifel, Anita Madole, Marcella Sheets and Fern Martin.