Gerilynn Gaeth

Gerilynn S. Gaeth (Neal)

6/5/1945 – 1/20/2025

Gerilynn passed away on January 20, 2025 at Westlake Care Community in Lakewood, CO.

Geri was born on June 5, 1945, in East Tawas, MI. She grew up in Saginaw and was baptized at Sacred Heart Church. She was Homecoming Queen and graduated as salutatorian from Sacred Heart High School in 1963. She married and had two daughters before eventually moving to Iowa in 1978. 

Geri was a devoted mother and grandmother and a great cook! The birthday cakes she made were legendary and her handwritten recipes are true keepsakes! Her beautiful penmanship was admired by many. She loved studying the Bible, gardening, crafting, painting and being read to. She took great joy watching the Hummingbirds at her feeders each summer and collected owls.

Throughout her career she exemplified a strong work ethic. She worked at Eaton Manufacturing in Saginaw, MI and Caterpillar Manufacturing in the Quad Cities as she raised her girls. Later she provided gracious and generous service to others through her work as a Homemaker Home Health Aid for Genesis Visiting Nurses Association in Davenport, IA for 25 years and as a Certified Fitter and Medical Supply Clerk for Main at Locust Pharmacy for more than 15 years until she retired.

Geri was a faithful Catholic her entire life and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davenport, IA for more than 30 years. Father Nicholas Akindele has been an incredible blessing of light and love to Geri and her daughters, particularly since she fell ill in February 2024. She “knew” and trusted Father Nicholas even before she met him through her faithful readings of his bulletin messages.

Her extraordinary faith was her hallmark--demonstrated through her consistent expression of kindness, generosity, patience, unconditional love and forgiveness. She always looked for (and found) the best in everyone! To know her was to love her—and to be loved by her!

She is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Shari King (Robert) and Stephanie Byrd (Bryan); three grandchildren: Brianna Condon, Andrew Gaeth and Maricella Meraz; four brothers and three sisters-in-law: Roy W. (Diane) Neal Jr.; Dennis J. (Debra); Brian D. (Darla); Stephen W. Neal; and her sister Christine L. MacKay; eight nieces and nephews: Nathan Neal, Bethany Neal, Lauren (Matt) Neal, Julia Neal, Patrick (Ashley) Neal, Shawn Neal, Caitlin MacKay, Declan MacKay, as well as cousin Kenneth (Ann) Himmelein. Also surviving are other cousins and extended family. 

Geri was preceded in death by her parents, Roy W. Neal, Sr. and Geraldine E. (Himmelein) Neal; her brother Robert Neal; several aunts, uncles and cousins.

For those who would like to attend, her Funeral Mass is scheduled on Monday, February 10th at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Davenport, IA followed by a luncheon downstairs in Enright Hall. Geri will be laid to rest at Oakwood Mausoleum in Saginaw, MI in a private entombment.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial donation in Geri’s memory to Holy Family Catholic Church, 1315 W. Pleasant St, Davenport, IA 52804.

Remembrances may be expressed online at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.