Wold, Gordon

Always the consummate gentleman, Gordon Wold, 82, of Grinnell, peacefully passed away on Thursday morning, March 8, 2012, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center after an extended battle with pulmonary fibrosis. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 12, at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Visitation will be from 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Gordon Lynn Wold, son of John and Gina Wold, was born March 29, 1929, in Sprague Hospital in Huron, S.D. He graduated from Huron High School in 1947, and was proud to be a member of the graduating class of 1951 from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. Throughout his life, Gordon was always willing to expound on the attributes of his native state, much to the dismay of his Iowa-born relatives, but there was no doubt as to his love for Iowa, never more evident than when he was cheering for his beloved Hawkeyes.

He willingly served his country in the United States Army from 1951-1953, reaching the rank of first lieutenant while stationed in Korea. After the war, he worked as an assistant bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

In 1955, Gordon married Winifred DuLaney of Chicagoand they raised three lovely daughters: Barbara Ann, Jennifer Lynn and Patricia Jean. Winifred succumbed in her battle with cancer in 1979.

Gordon started his Iowa banking career with the Forest City Bank and Trust Co. in April 1961, and, in 1974, he purchased the controlling interest in the Poweshiek County Savings Bank in Brooklyn. Gordon thoroughly enjoyed working with the fine folks in Brooklyn and the surrounding area for 19 years, retiring in 1993.

In 1981, Gordon met and married his beloved Bonnie Lou Starbuck Cornish, a widow with three children, and thus began their delightful 30-year marriage filled with competitive bridge games, vegetable gardening, adorable pet dogs, cross-country car trips, good-natured rivalry at putt-putt golf, fun-filled cruises, treating their grandchildren to fishing excursions, cheering at exciting Hawkeye sporting events, and cherishing every minute they spent with their growing family.

Although Gordon was most proud of his Norwegian heritage, and especially of his homemade krumkaka, he was also honored to serve on the Iowa Bankers Insurance Board and the Iowa Bankers Association Board. He was proud to be a founding member of the Brooklyn Senior Citizens Housing Committee, as well as a member of the Grinnell Regional Medical Center Hospital Board for several years. As a member of the Brooklyn Kiwanis, he was proud to actively participate in its many civic activities, and he always had a special place in his heart for the BGM Dollars for Scholars Program. Most recently, he was a member of the United Church of Christ in Grinnell.

All of his life, Gordon loved and enjoyed music, and he was especially proud of the fact that as a sixth-grader, he was asked to play the French horn in the high school band, continuing to do so for the rest of his school years. Gordon had a beautiful voice as well, and he sang in many church choirs, community choirs, and made his vocal debut in Grinnell while playing the role of Jacob in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Wednesday night, while lying in his hospital bed, Gordon amazed his family and the nursing staff at GRMC by singing harmony on the last line of “Happy Birthday” in special tribute to his bride.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Harlan of Huron, S.D.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Grinnell; his three daughters, Barbara Palermo (Jerry) of DeSoto, Texas, Jennifer Schachet (Mike) of Chicago and Patricia Boyd (Mark) of Fort Worth, Texas; his three stepchildren, KC Cornish (Karla) of Grinnell, Kyle Cornish (Leigh) of Olive Branch, Miss., and Susan Kajer (A.J.) of East Tawas, Mich.; and 12 grandchildren.

For those wishing to honor his life through memorials, Gordon would be very pleased for contributions to be made to Grinnell Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Manor or BGM Dollars for Scholars.

Memories and condolences may be shared with his family at www.smithfh.com.

Published March 10, 2012 in The Gazette