Gail K. Witkowski, died peacefully on Friday, April 27, 2012 at Asbury Park in Newton, Kansas at the age of 78.
She was born October 17, 1933 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to H.G. and Phamie Mc Feely.
Gail was a teacher for more than 50 years and influenced the lives of not only her own 5 children, but thousands of others while teaching in Department of Defense Schools all over the world, along with Catholic schools in Maryland and Nevada and public schools in Utah. She was fluent in multiple languages and also taught English as a second language class. During her tenure in Utah, her students and parents always looked forward to the Shakesperean play she had her students put on each year and when there was enough snow, the cross country ski trips she took her classes on around the base.
Many of her former students remember Mrs. Witkowskisms such as shoe-it is and chair-it is, 50 lashes with a wet noodle, and “que lastima”, “lo siento” and “pobresito”.
Gail was a devout Catholic and taught many religious and First communion classes. She also played the hand bell in a special group at her Catholic church in Reno, Nevada.
She loved to travel and with her husband Anthony J. Witkowski, whom she married on March 3, 1962 in The Azores, Portugal, she traveled all over the world and took multiple cruises. She also loved to sing and was a voracious reader. She enjoyed the theatre, musicals, the opera, and the symphony and attended performances on a regular basis. For the past 5 years she and Anthony have lived at the home of her oldest daughter in rural Sedgwick. She enjoyed gardening and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Anthony J. Witkowski, of the home; daughter, G. Kathleen Inlow (Matthew) of the home; son, A. John Witkowski (Lorri) of Tooele, Utah; daughter Elizabeth A. Lindsley (Jim) of Utah; daughter, Rebecca S. Witkowski, Salt Lake City, Utah; son, Alexander (Sandy) H. Witkowski (Pam) of Ogden, Utah. She is also survived by her 18 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and her brother David G. McFeely of Berkely, California.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, on Tuesday, May 8th.
The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1:30 P.M.
Friends may visit with the family prior to the Mass at a luncheon to be held from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton.
A memorial has been established with Caring Hands Humane Society and Harry Hynes Hospice, in care of the funeral home at, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.