Earline Martha Gaskamp

Earline Martha Gaskamp, 93, of Clifton passed away Saturday evening, February 6, 2016 at Clifton Nursing and Rehab. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Clifton with Pastor Clay McCord officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

Earline Martha (Symank) Gaskamp was born on December 1, 1922 to William (Bill) and Bertha (Betty) Richter Symank on the family farm in the Prarie Chapel community of Coryell County. She was the 5th of 6 children, the youngest daughter.

She was baptized and later confirmed, both at St. Johns Lutheran Church at Coryell City. She attended school at Prarie Chapel and later at Turnersville. At Turnersville she played on the girls baseball team and was on the first girls team to win a championship. Her early years were spent on the family farm helping with the animals and crops, while her brothers were overseas fighting in WWII.

On November 22, 1947 she was united in marriage to Alfred Gaskamp of Mosheim. They were married at St. James Lutheran Church at Mosheim. To this union were born two sons, Stanley Dean in 1949 and Douglas Fred in 1953.

During her and Alfred's lifetime together they lived in several different communities. She worked at Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home for 20-plus years. She started work there in the dish room, later becoming a meat cook and ending her career as a housekeeper. During her days as a housekeeper, she enjoyed talking with the residents and hearing their stories of what they had done and of their travels.

After retirement, she and Alfred enjoyed gardening, always growing vegetables of all kinds. She loved to quilt and crochet, making 192 baby quilts for the Ronald McDonald House.

Several years after Alfred's death, she and her "boys", as she called them, moved to Clifton.

She entered Clifton Nursing and Rehab in January of 2016 by her choice as she knew she was unable to care for herself.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred in 2001; son, Douglas in 2010; son Stanley in 2014 and all of her siblings. Survivors include her niece, Alice Pederson; nephews, Alton Miilhause, Dennis Symank and Curtis Symank.; Brother-in-law, Monroe Gaskamp; sisters-in-law, Alice Hartman and Barbara Gaskamp, and many nieces and nephews from Alfred's side as well as great nieces and nephews.

Pall Bearers will be, Robert Hamilton, Clarence Thiele, Donald Padgett, Curtis Symank, Dennis Symank and Brian Gaskamp.

The Family wishes to Thank the staff of Clifton Care Center and Hospice Sunset for their loving care and family support.