Opal Pearl Gaskill

Opal Pearl (Richards) Gaskill was born on February 27, 1927, in Irwin, Iowa, to George and Bertha (Will) Richards. She attended school in Irwin. Opal met her husband, Jack, in Irwin, Iowa. They were later married in Springfield, Nebraska, on February 27, 1943. Three children were born to this union: Lynn, Judy, and Kathy. After their wedding, the couple moved to a farm east of Irwin and eventually moved to the Gaskill home farm, which is a Century Farm today. Their grandson Greg Gaskill and his wife, Lori, now reside on the family farm.

Opal was a hard-working farm wife. After retiring in 1983 from the farm, Jack and Opal moved to their home in Irwin. Opal enjoyed keeping busy cooking and baking; a family favorite was her homemade chicken and noodles. She did the finish work on the carpentry projects Jack would make. She enjoyed embroidery work and quilting. She made over 1,000 lap quilts for various missions.

Opal became a resident of the Manilla Manor in August of 2013. When the Manor closed in 2022, she moved to Gracewell in Denison. There she enjoyed coloring, puzzles, and read many, many books. Opal passed away on April 15, 2026, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital having attained the age of 99 years and 47 days. Opal was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack; her daughter, Judy Fenster; her brother, Normal Richards; and her sister, Arlene Barnum.

Opal is survived by her children, Lynn (Myrna) Gaskill of Manilla, Iowa; and Kathy (Jerry) Luetje of Altoona, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Greg and Lori Gaskill of Irwin; Tracy Fenster of Olathe, Kansas; Chad and Lynette Gaskill of Manilla; Bobbie Jo Hazeslip (Ron Morgan) of Tonganoxie, Kansas; Shane Gaskill of Manilla, Iowa; Chris Fenster of Hubbard, Iowa; Andrea Luetje (Eric Smith) of Newton, Iowa; and Adam Luetje of Ankeny, Iowa. She is also survived by 14 great grandchildren, 19 great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Kay Gaskill, of Iowa City, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Irwin Fire and Rescue, Irwin Church of Christ, or Gracewell Retirement Community in Denison, Iowa.