Susan Gaskill

SUSAN KAY (SOVERN) GASKILL

Cedar Rapids

Susan Kay (Sovern) Gaskill, a resident of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away suddenly in her home on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018.

Sue was born in Cedar Rapids on Aug. 31, 1940, and was in the first graduating class of Washington Senior High School, where she was crowned "Inaugural Queen" of the new school.

Sue went on to attend the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo., where she was affiliated with Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. After transferring to the University of Iowa, she graduated with a degree in speech therapy. She then devoted many years to her profession at the Good Shepherd Center for Exceptional Children in Hazel Crest, Ill. Sue also committed herself to lifelong learning about nutrition, fitness and well-being.

It is said her home in California was nearly a full-time bed and breakfast for their many friends from Cedar Rapids and elsewhere with whom they stayed in touch all their lives. Sue was a gourmet cook who prepared every meal for guests during their stays.

Sue's immediate presence will be sadly missed by her high school sweetheart and husband of 58 years, Charles S. Gaskill; her daughter, Lauren Jane (Thomas) Ehinger of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.; her son, Matthew Jay Gaskill of Rancho Santa Fe; grandson, Matthew Thomas Ehinger; her brother, Larry Jay (Barbara) Sovern of Cedar Rapids; her niece, Lindsey (Matthew) Urbanek of Overland Park, Kan.; nephew, John Brett Sovern of Clearwater, Fla.; and cousins, Gwendolyn (Sovern) Colfer of Meridian, Idaho, Sandra (Sovern) Rhodes of Denver, Colo., and Steve Sovern of Cedar Rapids.

Sue was preceded in death by her father, Charles Edward Sovern; and mother, Dorothy (Krebs) Sovern.

There will be no service. Memorial donations may be made in Sue's name to Good Shepherd Center for Exceptional Children, 17314 S. Kedzie Ave., Hazel Crest, IL 60429.