Gayle Larkin

Gayle L. Larkin, 91, of Waukon, IA, passed away on Friday, May 29, 2026, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 10th, at 11:30 AM at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Rev. Mark Oehlert officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 9:30 AM until time of services at the church on Wednesday. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements. The service will also be live streamed on the funeral home's facebook page: www.facebook.com/martinfunerals. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Gayle Lavon Larkin was born on October 22, 1934, on her parents’ farm in Franklin Township, Allamakee County, IA, the daughter of John and Thelma (Decker) Berg. She was baptized at Evangelical United Brethren Church in Forest Mills, IA, and confirmed into the Lutheran Church on June 1, 1958, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing. Gayle attended country school in the Little Red Schoolhouse in Franklin Township and graduated from Waukon High School in 1952. While in school, Gayle played the flute and piccolo in concert and marching band and also played the violin. After graduating, she went to work for First Northwestern Bell Telephone and Rockwell Collins Radio, both in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Gayle met Charles Larkin at Matter’s Ballroom in Decorah, and on September 19, 1953, they were married at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. They lived in Cedar Rapids for seven years and then moved back to the Waukon area, where they farmed in Center Township, operating a dairy and hog farm for many years. Gayle was very active with the farm management and fieldwork. When Chuck’s health failed, they moved to their farm in Makee Township, where she was the caretaker for Chuck for 29 years.

Gayle was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and was active with the Mary Circle. She enjoyed bowling, playing cards, dancing, and spending time on the Mississippi River with her family. She was an avid reader and loved sending birthday cards and cards of support to family and friends. Gayle also enjoyed working in her vegetable garden to raise produce for canning and freezing, making strawberry and raspberry jams, and baking-especially bread, pie, lefse, popcorn balls, donuts, and krumkake. She loved traveling to Hawaii, Jamaica, and Norway with Chuck, and together they enjoyed camping and many bluegrass festivals in the Midwest. Her favorite time was with her family for the holidays.

Survivors include her children: Bradley Larkin of Lansing, IA, Lyndon (Sara) Larkin of Onalaska, WI, Timothy (Leslie) Larkin of Fayette, MO, and Lora (David) Busch of La Crosse, WI; eight grandchildren: Trent (Michaela) and Ben (Shannon) Larkin, Mickaela (Scott) Lucey and Katie Larkin, Rachael (Jim) Shannon and Abigail (Evan) Barber, and Shira and Trinity Busch; four step grandchildren: Nellie Nash, Henry (Jessica) Foch, Rebecca (Aaron) Alspach, and Eva (David) Hill; six great-grandchildren: Lucas, Cully, Londyn and Brevalyn Larkin, and Eleanor and Charlie Barber; sister-in-law: Alice Murphy of Richfield, MN; and brothers-in-law: Herb (Patsy) Larkin of Waukon and Ray (Janice) Larkin of El Paso, TX.

She was preceded in death by her parents John and Thelma Berg; her husband Charles; two sisters: Norma Johnson and Lorraine Johnson-Hefel; three brothers: Rodney Berg, Dr.

Marlin Berg, and Donald Berg; father and mother-in-law John and Miranda Larkin; her nine sisters-in-law: Marlys Berg, Doriene Berg, Dorothy Berg, Eleanor Ryan, Marion Ryan, Frances Gallagher, Ramona Larkin, Rose Larkin, and Evelyn Reuter; and seven brothers-in-law: Roger Johnson, Edwin Ryan, Charles Ryan, Vernon Gallagher, Clem Larkin, John Larkin, and Roy Reuter.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Northgate Care Center for all their kindness and help.

Honorary casketbearers are Mickaela Lucey, Katie Larkin, Emma Barber, Rachel Shannon, Shira Busch, John Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Jolene Reeg, Peggy Gelo, Darlene Schlake, John and Darcy Esser, Arnie Crum, Al Hanson, and Ron Herman. Casketbearers are Trent Larkin, Ben Larkin, Trinity Busch, Dan Gallagher, Scott Berg, and Darwin Schlake.