MARY LOUISE GOTTSCHALK

1918 - 2016

MARY LOUISE GOTTSCHALK March 24, 1918 ~ December 19, 2016 Mary Louise Gottschalk, age 98, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on December 19, 2016. Mary married Henry (Hank) Gottschalk, the love of her life, on May 13, 1939. Jobs were hard to find at that time, but Mary found a job as a "Rosie the Riviter" at McClelland Air Force Base in Sacramento. Shortly after that, Hank started a job at Diamond Match Mill in Stirling City, CA, where they lived and raised their family for seventeen years. When the Stirling City mill closed in 1957, Hank was transferred to Diamond International Lumber Mill in Red Bluff. While in Red Buff, Mary worked at the Diamond International Pulp Mill for many years until she retired in 1980. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Henry (Hank) Gottschalk on June 18, 2002, after 63 years of marriage. in August of 2002, Mary moved to Tehama Estates where she made her home for eleven years and made many friends. She moved to Carmichael to live with her daughter and husband in 2013. In the early years at Tehama Estates, she could be seen leading the exercises or conducting a bible study. She attended Bethel Assembly of God church for over 55 years. Her faith and family were the most important thing in her life. You seldom ever saw Mary without a big smile on her face. She lit up the room when she entered. She loved people and people loved her and were drawn to her because of God's presence within her. Mary is survived by her two daughters: Connie (Marvin) Smoot and Donna Valentine, her grandchildren: Charlene (Bill) Nickels, Stephanie Valentine, Andrew Valentine, Scott (Donna) Smoot, Sam Valentine. She has 5 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Mary was born to Francis and Pearl Brown on March 24, 1918 in Minnesota, the oldest daughter of ten children. Her surviving siblings are: Edith Whitford, Betty Tucker, Merle Brown, Wayne Brown and Annie Kienel. Predeceased siblings are: Harvey Brown, Paul Brown, Stanley Brown and a twin that died at birth. Burial will be at Stirling City, December 29, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Memorial Services: December 29, 2016 at 2:00 High Point Assembly of God Church, 625 Luther Road, Red Bluff, CA