Gayle Francis Kaalberg, 84, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 14, 2024, at his country home near Nichols, Iowa.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 20, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Church in Nichols, with a 6:30 p.m. Rosary Service.  Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 21, 2024, at St. Mary’s Church in Nichols.  Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in rural Nichols, with military rites provided by the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457.  Following the committal service, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Nichols.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be directed to St. Mary’s Church, Nichols or to Nichols Fire and Rescue in memory of Gayle.  Online condolences may be left at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.  The Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Lone Tree is caring for Gayle’s family and arrangements. 

Gayle was born September 26, 1940, in Iowa City, Iowa to Frank Joseph and Marie W. (Milder) Kaalberg.  He received his formal education at the Nichols School, where he graduated Valedictorian.  After high school, he served in the Army Reserve Infantry and attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport.  Gayle and Carol Ann Sieren were united in marriage on June 14, 1969, at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Harper, Iowa.  They are parents to three children, Kory, Kyle and Katina.  They shared 56 years of marriage. 

Gayle was a farmer at heart, an avid Hawkeye fan and a gifted musician.  For a time, days were spent farming and evenings were spent playing in dance bands.  He played with Frank Buhr and The Midwest Ramblers and The Kenny Hofer Orchestra.  He became active in the Simmental cattle business, and imported a purebred Simmental bull and heifer from England.  In 1985, he began working at Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank while continuing to farm.  In 1997 he was named president after serving as executive vice president.  After Gayle retired from F&M Bank, he continued farming with his son, Kory and grandson, Colton, and enjoyed driving his 1956 Cadillac in local parades.  Gayle was very active in his community and served on numerous boards.  He has served on the Board of Directors for the Iowa Simmental Association, North Central Simmental Association, Muscatine Beef Producers, Iowa Agriculture Bankers Committee, Lone Tree Lincoln Mutual Insurance, Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank and the Lone Tree Health Care Center.  Gayle was also an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nichols, where he served as Lay Director, Finance Chairman and Parish Council president, Nichols Community Club, West Liberty Gourmet Club and Muscatine County Farm Bureau.

Family was very important to Gayle.  He will be deeply missed by those surviving him.  Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Carol of Nichols; children, Kory (Chris) Kaalberg of Nichols, Kyle Kaalberg of Henderson, Nevada and Katina (Christopher Bowron) Kaalberg of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren, Kathryn (Kyle Scanlon) Kaalberg, Kayla (Brett) Becker, Colton (Vivian Urmie) Kaalberg, Saoirse Bowron, Keva Bowron, Teagan Bowron, Caden Kaalberg and Clayton Kaalberg; great grandchildren, Quinn Becker, Brynn Becker and Wrenley Kaalberg and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Gayle was preceded in death by his parents, infant brothers, Joseph; three sisters, Kathleen, Dolores and Sr. Ramona; in-laws, Elmer and Bernadine Sieren and brother-in-law, Ron Sieren.