Faith Marie Gaskill

Faith Marie Gaskill

1919-2017

Faith Marie Gaskill, 97, the widow of R.F. Gaskill, and daughter of August Julius and Martha Hermina Scholz, joined loved ones in Heaven on June 30, 2017.
Faith, the owner of the Village Shop, a store specializing in women’s clothing on Main Street for 22 years, was born on August 10th, 1919 in her parents’ home on “Washboard Avenue.” She was an able and hardworking student. In 1937, she graduated Valedictorian, and was one of three Depression-era students in her class to win a four-year scholarship. Her scholarship took her to Wayne State College, where she prepared to be a business teacher and sang soprano in college operettas.
While home one weekend visiting her parents, Faith attended a dance in Riverside Park, which led to meeting her future husband, Bob Gaskill, a young salesman trying to eke out a living (like everyone at the time). During their courtship, Bob found traveling sales positions with distributors of soft drinks, magazines and cigarettes.
Faith began her teaching career in Smithland, IA, her eye on the war developing in Europe. After Pearl Harbor, Bob was drafted and moved to various Army bases for training. She chose to marry Bob on May 27th, 1942 in Seattle, WA, although it meant risking her much-needed job in Smithland. (At that time, only unmarried women were offered positions as teachers.) During the ensuing five years, Faith followed Bob, who was trained to work in radar, to stints in La Jolla, San Diego, and Tampa. While Bob was stationed in the Philippines and Alaska, she taught in Meadow Grove.
When the war ended, the couple returned to Neligh, where they spent the majority of their lives. Bob joined his father-in-law at the Scholz Insurance Agency, which eventually became his.  Faith bore three children, Renee’, Connie, and Bob.

In 1969, Faith and Bob bought Vivian’s Dress Store, remodeled it, and renamed it The Village Shop. Several years later, as the business grew, they renovated Brodersen’s Meat Market, situating the dress store a bit farther north on Main Street. In the early 80’s, they decided to try their hand at running a furniture store, opening the Buyer’s Mart, located north of the ESU Unit #8 on Main Street.
Faith and Bob were a busy, energetic couple. In addition to tending to her family, dress store and garden, Faith enjoyed seeing friends and attending the Congregational Church. Bob ran his insurance agency and farmed. They loved playing cards with friends, being outdoors, and spending time with their family.
Faith survived Robert, who died on July 24, 2013, by almost four years. She leaves behind children Renee Ellen Gaskill (Eduardo Garmendia), Connie Gaskill Mellquist (Mike Mellquist), and Robert James Gaskill (Brenda Stewart); 10 grandchildren–Manije and Arya Irani, Christie Davis, Shelley Goff, and John, James, Peter, Tim, Joshua and Andrea Gaskill (six of whom have spouses) as well as nine lovely grandchildren.