GAYLE LEE HEROLD
Gayle Lee Herold, the second youngest of eight children, was born on September 27th, 1951, in Sheldon, Ia. The family moved around the area until settling in Nebraska City, where Gayle graduated in 1969. Gayle grew up with her nieces and nephews and may or may not have taught them naughty words while dispatching chickens.
After graduating high school, Gayle worked at American Meter and started tending bar in the evenings. Gayle was a social butterfly and loved bartending. She enjoyed getting to know different people and hearing their stories. Gayle worked at several bars in Auburn, including Bucks, the White Black Bird, Bea’s and the Eagles Club.
It was at this time Gayle met Jeff McMann and they were married in March of 1983. Two children were born to this union: Alicia and Rachel. After the girls were born, Gayle started to bake and decorate cakes. Gayle loved doing the cakes and the girls loved licking the spatula clean. The girls joked that they both became allergic to almonds later in life because of the amount of almond extract in the frosting (Gayle’s secret ingredient).
After her divorce, Gayle began taking night classes and soon enrolled in Peru State College, where she earned her degree in Business Management with a minor in Literature. Gayle would later work at The Nebraska City News Press and Cooper Nuclear Station. After moving back to Auburn, Gayle once again took up bartending at Southside.
In addition to cake decorating, Gayle was an amateur historian. She loved learning about Ancient Egypt, Native American history, and the British Royal family. She also loved to garden and bake other goodies, like her famous fudge and homemade bread. Gayle was a veracious reader and had amassed quite the book collection.
In her later years, Gayle enjoyed watching the MCU movies, especially the ones with Doctor Strange, and her hunk, Thor. Gayle was a huge fan of really bad horror movies and Godzilla. She also loved watching the Food Network and Iron Chef. On Saturday nights, Gayle and Alicia would watch Svengoolie and make fun of how stupid the movies could be. And for some reason, Gayle loved to watch Korean teen dramas on Netflix.
On the morning of Monday, June 19, 2023, Gayle passed away at her home in Auburn, Nebraska, having attained the age of 71 years, 8 months, and 23 days. Her parents, daughter Rachel Curry, granddaughter Chloe Curry, sisters Gloria (and husband Terry) Helms, Darla Stukenholtz, Romelle Copenhaver, and brother Courtney Herold preceded her in death.
She is survived by her daughter Alicia McMann of Auburn; son-in-law Michael Curry of Auburn; sister Sunda Doiel of Auburn; brothers Carter (Dorothy) Herold of Nebraska City, Mike Herold (Paula Mullins) of Rock Port, MO; brothersin- law Louis Stukenholtz of Peru, Ronald Copenhaver of Plattsmouth; her cat Ziva; numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.
A celebration of life was held Friday, June 23, 2023, at Hemmingsen Funeral Home in Auburn. Honorary bearers were all of Gayle’s nieces and nephews, Michael Curry, Joe Huckle, Mike Herold, Ron Copenhaveer, Carter Herold, and Louis Stukenholtz. Burial of ashes will be held at a later date in Sheridan West Cemetery at Auburn.
Services were entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.