Hazell GATZKE

GATZKE, Hazell had little interest in the details of obituaries, her own or others'. She said "Just tell everyone I'm gone." Well, Hazell is indeed gone. She left her body and this world on January 25, 2018, at nearly 93 years old. Hazell was born on the family farm in rural Aberdeen, South Dakota. She was one of the twelve children of Ruel and Elsie Howell, and she told interesting stories of life on a prairie farm in 1930's America. She was beautiful and fun, and she married Jim Gatzke. They moved to Tucson, where they raised five reasonably functioning children. Hazell was a long-time friend of Bill Wilson and she founded the Saturday Morning Stepsisters. She believed in connections and wanted her friends and family to know each other. Hazell had a large family and an even larger circle of friends who appreciated her feisty opinions and could tolerate the occasional rebuke. She had a mostly endearing way of keeping everyone in line and she will be sorely missed by many, including her children, Jim and Diane, Victoria and Francis, Don and Maggi, and her grandchildren Jessie, Cody, Claire, and Kiara. We're happy to envision Mom being reunited with Dad and our brothers, Steven and Rene. Be careful out there, Hazell. Don't let a bird peck your eye out! Arrangements by HUDGEL'S SWAN FUNERAL HOME.