Howard E. Gage

Howard Eugene Gage, 96, of Mason City passed away at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa on Monday, June 28, 2010, after a short illness. Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Friday, July 2, 2010 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 329 East State Street, with Rev. Sid Bohls officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Visitation will be two hours prior to services at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Howard was born March 17, 1914 in Iowa City, Iowa to Ada Fredericka (Anderson) Gage and Edgar Stockbridge Gage. Shortly after, his family moved to Mason City, Iowa, where he spent the rest of his life.He graduated from Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanics with a BS in general engineering in June of 1937. After graduation, he worked in his fathers accounting firm, Edgar S. Gage and Son.Howard was drafted into the Army in May, 1941. He went to Camp Claiborne, LA for Basic Training with the 34th Division. While home on leave he married Ethel Cathlyn Margaret Wallskog on October 30, 1941 in Mason City and shortly afterward returned to duty. He was sent to Ft. Dix, NJ, then out with the first contingent to Europe in January 1942. They landed in Londonderry, North Ireland. In Ireland he was transferred to the Fifth Corps, Finance Section and was first sent to Belfast, then to Bristol, England in June of 1942, where he became a Master Sergeant. On June 12, they boarded a boat for Normandy Beach. After slow advance, they reached Paris the day after it was liberated by French troops under DeGaul. They moved north and east, living in tents till they reached the town of St. Vith in Eastern Belgium, just north of the Battle of the Bulge. Howard went home on leave for 30 days and upon returning landed at Le Havre, France on VE Day. His division was transported through France, Belgium, and Germany and ended up in Pilson, Czechoslovakia. He was honorably discharged in May 1945. After the war, Howard returned to work in his fathers accounting firm. He received his CPA in August, 1964, and worked until retirement in the McGladry, Hanson, Dunn and Gage firm. He served as Treasurer for the Exchange Club for many years. He attended St. Paul Lutheran Church from 1962 until his death, and served as their treasurer for approximately 17 years. Howard was an avid golfer in his retirement years and spent many happy hours golfing with his friends at Highland Park golf course in Mason City. A golfing highlight for Howard was playing several famous British courses, including Royal Lytham and St. Annes and the Old Course in St. Andrews in Scotland while visiting his daughter and family who resided in England from 1978 to 1980. He met weekly for coffee with his golfing buddies for many years (even long after his golfing days) something he greatly enjoyed.
Howard and his wife Ethel liked to travel and made two trips to England to visit their daughter Maggie and her family, a trip to Juneau, Alaska to visit their son Jim, and numerous trips throughout the United States. During this time, they visited every state except Hawaii.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ethel (Wallskog), father and mother, daughter Margaret Ann Marsh, and brother, Edgar S. Gage.
Howard is survived by brothers: Clarke Lyman Gage (Jane) of Canton, NY; Don Joseph Gage (Patsy) of Palestine, TX; sister Rosemary Murphy (Phil) of Madelia, MN; daughter Ada Kristine Grosland (Ron) of Austin, MN; son James Howard Gage (Kathy) of Juneau, AK; son Peter Eugene Gage (Debra) of Firestone, CO; son-in-law Dennis Marsh and his wife Nancy of Mason City; grandchildren Andrew Grosland, Spearfish, SD; Kristine Grosland, Boulder, CO; Matthew Grosland (Samantha), Hendersonville, TN; Molly Marsh, Washington, DC; Mindy Ray (Dan) of Faribault, MN; Sean Gage, Denver, CO; Morgen Obersinner-Gage, Edmonds, WA; Levi Berner, Portland, OR; and Logan Berner, Bellingham, WA; great grandchildren: Ellie, Tim, Leah, Hannah and Claire Ray, and many beloved nieces and nephews

Memorials:
St. Paul Lutheran Church

Cemetery:
Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery

Visitation:
Two hours before the service at St. Paul Lutheran Church

Service:
2:00 PM Friday, July 2, 2010 at St. Paul Lutheran Church