Obituary of Esther L. Gath

Esther Leona Gath was born in Jackson County, Minnesota on August 16, 1925 to Ernest and Anna Gath. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith on June 6, 1926 and confirmed at the age of fourteen. She moved with the family to Round Lake, Minnesota. In January of 1943, her family moved to a farm east of Lake Park, Iowa and Esther remained in Round Lake until she graduated in May, 1943. After graduation, she moved to a farm west of Spirit Lake, Iowa to live with her half sister, Elsie and Roger Thorn. Esther worked at various jobs in Spirit Lake including Berkley & Company for eleven years. In 1961, she went into business owning Esthers Fashion Boutique, which she enjoyed for twenty-one years. Upon retirement, Esther remained on the farm where she enjoyed her yard, flowers, pets and feeding the birds. In September of 1997, she moved into Spirit Lake where she enjoyed doing ceramics and going to coffee with friends. Esther was a long time member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Esther passed away on January 19, 2008 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at eighty-two years of age. Esther leaves to mourn three brothers, Alvin and Darlene of Mesa, Arizona, Ernie of rural Spirit Lake and Lawrence and Janice of rural Lake Park; two half sisters-in-law, Rose Gath of Browns Valley, Minnesota and Tillie Kluever of Worthington, Minnesota; six nephews and nieces, Dan and Marilyn Gath, Arnold and Debbie Gath, Ed and Karen Gath, Gary and Lyn Gath, Laurie and Rick Burgardt and Julie and Mark Steinle; seventeen loving great nieces and nephews, good friend, Arlene Wiese and a host of relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Ed, eleven half sisters and brothers, two sisters-in-law, Jane and Shirlee Gath, niece, Pam Gath and special friend, Don Untiedt.