Gail Marjorie East

Gail Marjorie East, 88, of Park Rapids, MN died on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at the Diamond Willow Assisted Care Center in Park Rapids, MN.

    Gail M. Kardell was born on March 31, 1930 in Sauk Rapids, MN the daughter of Marjorie M. (Kay) and Axel Amandas Kardell.  She grew up with her seven brothers and a younger sister, and attended school in Sauk Rapids where she graduated in 1949.  Gail moved to Minneapolis and went to work for Honeywell.   She was united in marriage to Wallace Arthur East on September 2, 1949 in St. Cloud, MN.  They lived in St. Cloud where they had four sons.  In 1960 Gail and Wally moved to Willmar, MN and continued raising their sons.  Following their retirement they moved to “the farm” north of Park Rapids in 1980.  In 1995 they moved into the city of Park Rapids.    Wally passed away in 2006.  Gail has been a resident of the Diamond Willow Assisted Living Facility in Park Rapids for the past two years.

   She and Wally had been active members of the Park Rapids Antique Tractor Club and its Magnetos group. She was a talented painter, and also enjoyed sewing and quilting with her friends.  She also made and sold handcrafts with her husband during their retirement years.  She loved the outdoors, and was most comfortable being at the farm, when she could take time to sit with a glass of ice tea on a warm summer evening on the deck.  Watching and feeding the birds was one of her favorite pastimes. Gail was a very special lady to many people, but especially to those who knew her as Mom, Aunty Gail, or Gramma Gail.  

  She is survived by her four sons, “The Boys” – David (Reenie Hensel) East; James East both of Park Rapids, MN; Gene (Sandy) East of Spicer, MN and Jeff East of Dodgeville, WI. Three grandchildren Jason (Jennifer) East; Andrew East, and Janelle (Bern) Youngblood; three great grandchildren – Trista, Tyler and Nadia.

 Her two brothers – Lynn Kardell of Foley, MN; and Gary (Joan) Kardell of Rice, MN and special sisters in law, Joyce Kardell and Delores Kardell, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; her brothers – George, Clifford, John, Philip, and Guy Kardell, and her sister- Carol Wright.

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