Gayle Lee Creswell

Gayle Lee Creswell

Gayle Lee Creswell

Gayle Lee Creswell
December 25, 1939 – October 21, 2016
Montezuma, Iowa | Age 76

Gayle Creswell, 76 of Montezuma passed away suddenly on Friday, October 21, 2016 at the Grinnell Regional Medical Center in Grinnell, Iowa. Gayle Lee Creswell, son of Harold and Elna (Jensen) Creswell, was born on December 25, 1939 in Independence IA.

Gayle spent a very happy childhood growing up on his family’s farm, and graduated from Reinbeck Community School in 1957. After attending Iowa State University with his younger brother, Bruce, he received his bachelor’s degree from the State College of Iowa (UNI) in 1962.

Gayle entered into what would become his lifelong career as an educator at Montezuma Community Schools in 1962. In 1969 he received his master’s degree from the University of Iowa. In 1970 he took the job of guidance counselor, which ultimately defined his life. Through this position he influenced and mentored countless of Montezuma’s young people. From 1997-2003 he continued to serve Montezuma students as junior high principal, including one year serving as both junior high and high school principals. He taught as an adjunct instructor at Iowa Valley Community College from 2003-2012. From 2003-2014 he led Curriculum and Staff Development at Montezuma Community Schools. He continued to substitute teach at Montezuma and surrounding schools from 2014 until the end of his life, teaching until the day before his death.

Gayle was passionate about the role of athletics in the lives of children, and coached for the majority of his career. In addition to co-founding the junior high girls’ basketball program and the junior high track program, he is fondly remembered by hundreds of MHS graduates as a junior high boys’ basketball and junior high football coach. He was an enthusiastic Iowa Hawkeyes fan, and passionate Chicago Cubs supporter (believing that, perhaps, 2016 is their year to win it all). He was also, very proudly, a Green Bay Packers fan.

As well as sports, Gayle’s hobbies included genealogy, gardening, reading, and trivia of all sorts. He was a member of the Poweshiek County Historical Society and was active with retired teachers. He remained involved with Alpha Chi Epsilon fraternity functions throughout his life. Notably, he recently organized a reunion of his country school kindergarten classmates. Above all, Gayle’s family-his wife, children, grandchildren and his brothers and sisters-meant everything to him.

His memory will be honored by his wife of 48 beautiful years, Jerilyn (Klages) Creswell of Montezuma; and his three children: Teresa (& Jeff) Mees of Columbia MO; Eric (& Vicki) Creswell of Brookings SD; and Allison (& Dustin) Hanson of Columbia MO. He is survived by four siblings: Karen (& Bill) Mullen of Milton WI; Dennis (& Paulette) Creswell of Wausau WI; Tom (& Yvonne) Creswell of Bloomington IL; and Kay (& Jim) Matz of Stoughton WI. He was the proud grandfather of: Jensen, Evan and Caleb Mees, Carson, Cody, Emma and Owen Creswell; and Jaden and Malia Hanson.

Gayle will also be fondly remembered by the multitude of students whose lives he influenced with his caring and integrity. Gayle was known by all for his upstanding values: he believed strongly in thinking before he spoke; being quiet, patient and kind; and in finding worth in every individual.

Gayle was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Elna Creswell; and his beloved younger brother Bruce (& Barb) Creswell.

His family would like to express gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of sympathy and support from all over the world, and they take deep comfort that this is a reflection of Gayle’s strength of character and respect for humanity.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 10:30 am at the Montezuma Community Schools with a luncheon to follow.
Burial will be held at a later date.
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 24, 2016 beginning at noon at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with the family present from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Montezuma Community School or Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society.

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