Services for Leona have been changed to a later time on Saturday, due to weather: The funeral service will be at 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 12, 2019. The visitation and prayer service on Friday will remain unchanged.

Leona Ann Gaukler, 95, of Linton, North Dakota, passed away October 8, 2019 in the Linton Hospital with her family by her side.

She was born on July 6, 1924 to Ludvik and Magdelinea Wasen of Temvik, ND Leona attended Hazelton High School and graduated in 1942.  That summer-at the age of 18-she took training courses that would allow her to start her teaching career (Baker Country School, Valley City Ritchie School and Linton Elementary School) which lasted until she retired in 1987.

In 1944 she married Maynard Schuette of Braddock where they lived and later had two children, James and Joyce.  Maynard passed away in 1957.  In 1962, she married Robert Gaukler of Linton, ND where they lived through her retirement. Robert passed away in 1999. In 2015, Leona moved to Edgewood Assisted Living in Mandan; then, in 2018, to Strasburg Care Center until her passing.

She was very active in the American Legion Auxiliary since 1962 and was made an honorary lifetime member.

Leona loved life and spent much of her spare time keeping family photo albums which remain today for everyone to enjoy.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Irene and Mildred; and brother Oscar.

She is survived by her children: Jim (Kathy) Schuette of Salem, Oregon; Joyce (Blaine) Lemer of Linton, ND; Sister-Norma (Gottlieb) Breckel, Brother-Marvin Wasen; and her  grandchildren:  William (Jenna)-Fargo; Ryan (Tara)-Fort Atkinson, Wisc.;  Wade (Erin) Huber-Linton, ND; Jill (Steve) Rowe, Fargo, ND; Janell (Mike) Adams, Oxbow, ND; Marc (Meagan) Schuette, Portland, OR;, Melisa (Thomas) Jaenisch, Stapleton, CO; Step-grandchildren: Tom (Michelle) Swearingen Jr., Salem, OR;  Brian Swearingen, Tampa, FL.; Jordan, Jessica and Spencer Lemer.  She is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Peace Lutheran Church or to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Leona's honor.