Dewie J. Gaul

1928 - 2025

Dewie J. Gaul

September 18, 1928 - June 20, 2025

Dewie J. Gaul, 96, passed away Friday, June 20, 2025, at his residence in Sioux City, Iowa.

A visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 27, 2025, at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Larkin Chapel, 2320 Outer Drive North, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Cathedral Parish-St. Joseph Catholic Church, with burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Dewie J. Gaul was born Sept. 18, 1928, on a farm three miles southeast of Earling, Iowa, the son of John A. Gaul and Odelia (nee Schnuettgen) Gaul and the grandson of Nicholas Gaul and Susanna (nee Friedmann) Gaul and Theadore Schnuettgen and Fredericka (nee Koesters) Schnuettgen. Dewie was the seventh of nine children. His brothers and sisters are Cyril (Angela) (born 19 April 1915; died 19 Jan. 1997), Valerie (Ms. Bernard Zimmerman) (born 8 June 1916; died 20 Oct. 2010); Roman (Mildred) (born 6 July 1919; died 19 Oct. 2006); Marian (Mrs. Ray Marshall) (born 10 June 1921; died 12 June 2014); Colette (Mrs. G.R. Butterfield) (born 11 Oct. 1923; died 1 July 2012); Verner (Betty) (born 3 Feb. 1926; died 11 Jan. 2015); John M. (born 2 Feb. 1931; died 1 Jan. 2012); and Angela (born 15 March 1936; died 14 Sept. 2021) all of whom, along with his parents; wife, Mavis; daughter-in-law, Patti (nee Lawler); and a grandson, Matthew Gaul, preceded Dewie in death.

He attended St. Joseph grade and high school at Earling, Iowa, graduating May 17, 1946, ranking first in his class. He graduated from Loras College in 1950, receiving his A.B. degree maxima cum laude. He attended Georgetown University Law School from 1950 to 1951, served on active duty with the United States Navy from Aug. 21, 1951 to July 27, 1953, and then completed his legal education at Georgetown, where he served as an editor of the Georgetown Law Review and graduated with an LL.B. degree in 1955.

He was admitted to the Iowa bar on Feb. 18, 1955. He was an associate in the firm of Sifford & Wadden from Feb. 18, 1955, till Feb. 11, 1963. On the latter date, he became a partner in the firm of Sifford, Wadden & Davis, which on Dec. 1, 1969, became the firm of Davis, Jacobs & Gaul. On Oct. 1, 1974, the firm became Jacobs, Gaul, Nymann, and Green, and later Gaul, Nymann & Green.

On May 31, 1983, Dewie was sworn in as a District Judge for the Third Judicial District, and he served in that position until Sept. 18, 2000, when he became a senior district court judge. He served as a senior judge until Sept. 18, 2006, when he retired completely, having attained the mandatory retirement age for an Iowa senior judge.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Sioux City, serving on the Advisory Committee from 1959 to 1961, the Parish Council from 1968 to 1975, and as a lay minister from 1975 to 1980. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, 3rd and 4th Degrees, Woodbury County Bar Association (President 1973), Iowa State Bar Association, and Iowa Judges Association. He was on the St. Joseph School Board serving as President from 1970 to 1972. He was a member of the American Catholic Historical Association. He was also a longtime member of the Iowa State and Woodbury County Genealogical Societies.

Dewie served as a Democratic precinct committeeman from 1960 till 1982 and chairman of the Woodbury County Democratic Central Committee from June 1962 to March 25, 1966. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sioux City Public Library from 1971 to 1977. He kept track of the name and author of every book he read completely, and his record shows a total of 5,860 books read.

On Oct. 27, 1956, at Sacred Heart Church in Yankton, S.D., he married Mavis Cwach, daughter of Joseph Cwach and Kathryn (nee Bloch) Cwach. Mavis and Dewie had six children: Jacqueline Charbel (Victor), of Eagan, Minn; Sandra of Dubuque, Iowa; Thomas of Sioux City, Iowa; Robert "Bouf" (Nancy) of Vanore, Tenn.; Randal of Sioux City, Iowa; and Laurie Crisler (Frank) of Arlington, S.D., all of whom survive.

He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Melanie Pemble, Tony Enderle, Gabrielle Haugen (nee Charbel), Michael Charbel (Samantha), Sarah Gaul, Christopher Gaul, Allison Green (nee Crisler) (Joseph), and Daniel Crisler (Foteini); and by six great-grandchildren: Jack Pemble, Oliver, Roman and Georgia Haugen and Charlotte and Emily Green; as well as by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

The family would like to thank Visiting Angel Cynthia Wulf and Visiting Angels Homecare for their excellent care of Dad for the past five years and Sister Janet Kreber, who visited Dad regularly.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church (Sioux City), Loras College (Dubuque) or the Sioux City Public Library Foundation.