June Gudgel

"This is a glorious day and I can't wait to get started!" These words were June Gudgel's mantra. Her exuberance overflowed to those who knew her. June was born in Columbia, Missouri, January 21, 1928, at the home of her maternal grandparents, Ma and Pa Net. Ma and Pa greatly influenced her life and gave her unconditional love. June died, Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014, in Kansas City, Kansas, surrounded by members of her family. As a very young child, June lived in Hoop-Up, Missouri, in a log cabin with no running water or electricity. Her father, Everett, farmed with his family, and when the depression hit the hardest, and the farm was lost, June moved with her family to Columbia, Missouri, where her father died when she was 12, leaving June's mother, Grace, to raise four young children. June, being the oldest, shouldered great responsibility, helping her mother with various jobs to help the family survive. Grace took in laundry, bordered college students, and strangers who needed lodging while visiting a family member in the nearby cancer hospital. June remembers washing, drying and delivering clothes after her mother had ironed everything to perfection, and giving up her bed to these borders. In all these tasks June learned the value of working hard, sacrifice and compassion. In 1945 June moved to Hannibal, Missouri to live with an aunt and uncle, completed high school, and began college. She worked evenings as a telephone operator for the Burlington Northern Railroad. It was then she met, on a blind date, her future husband, Maurice Gudgel, from Hull, Illinois. They were married November 14, 1948, in Hannibal, Missouri. June and Maurice lived in Hull, and he worked for the Union Electric Company (Ameren) and during that time their son, David, was born in 1950, in Hannibal. They were transferred to Keokuk, Iowa with UE and in 1954 their second son, Phillip, was born, followed by their daughter, Linda, in 1957. June was frugal with the family income, resourceful, and soon she and Maurice saved enough to build their family home on Walte Lane. They worked very hard, making their house a home, saving every penny they could, not living beyond their means, and instilling in their children the values of hard work, church and community. Trinity United Methodist church played a vital role for the Gudgel family, and June remained faithful to the church all her life. Her faith in God, her steadfast and unwavering commitment to people were a constant in her life. She befriended countless people less fortunate, and attended to them without fanfare or need of notice or praise. Many of June's delicious holiday meals were packaged and delivered to those without means or family, and beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts were given to people who were alone. She visited shut-ins, and the poor, purchased clothing, cleaned their homes, drove them to appointments, or just for fun, an outing to get an ice cream cone. June was blind to religion or race. She volunteered hours to nursing homes, playing bingo, or listening to, what she said, were marvelous stories of the residents about their lives. She cared deeply for people, and loved good conversation. She certainly knew how to laugh. She had a laugh, that if you heard it, you would never forget. After Maurice's death in 1989, June met life full on, maintaining her home and self to perfection. She never wallowed in self-pity, never gave up, and never, ever allowed herself the easy way out. She embraced many friends, old and new, traveled across the US and into Europe, something she never imagined for a girl from Hoop-Up, and blossomed in a way that many people only dream of. She certainly set the bar high, not only for herself, but for her family…and my, what an example she has been! June immersed herself in the Keokuk community, volunteering her time to many organizations. She was an active member of Questers and United Methodist Women. Her vision for a new park band shelter prompted her and her son, David, to spearhead the creation of what is now the stunning Rand Park Pavilion. She was very proud of this achievement. Yet the most important part of June's life was her family, her 3 children, their spouses, her 10 grandchildren, their spouses, and 8 great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren cannot help but smile when they remember Grandma Junie. She brought to their lives so much love, so much fun and energy, as well as someone to live up to, to please and admire. She was the pivot of the Gudgel family. "Junie Moon" will be an enduring example to generations of her family on how to live life to the fullest. Survivors include her daughter-in-law, Leah and she and David's children Clare (Mike Logsdon), Beth (Nate Connor), Andrew (Elizabeth), Adam (Katie); son Phillip (Heather) and their children, Whitney, Benjamin and Taylor; daughter Linda (David Konkel) and their children, Bridger, Lauren and Anna (Zach Tyrrell), eight great-grandchildren, John, James, Luke, Griffin, Owen, Emmett, Joseph and Anna Evelyn; a sister, Louise Covey and numerous, and very much loved, nieces and nephews. HOW VERY MUCH WE WILL MISS HER. She was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice, son David, a sister, Carol Watson and brother Richard Dothage. A Celebration of Life was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 2nd, 2014 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Keokuk with Reverend Missy Brown officiating. Private family burial at Akers Chapel Cemetery in Hull, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church, The Keokuk Public Library or the Rand Park Pavilion.