Gail Beermann

Gail Beermann, 81, of Norwalk, passed away peacefully Monday, December 22, surrounded by her loving family. She had recently entered Regency Care Center in Norwalk as a result of vascular dementia. Gail was a friend to many and the heart of her family. She will be greatly missed.

Kathleen Gail Beermann was born in Cresco, Iowa, on January 22, 1944, to John Allen and Patricia Eileen Kelly Johnson of Lime Springs, IA. She was baptized at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Chester, IA. She attended a nearby rural school until the family moved to a farm near Kendallville in 1951. She attended Fremont #2 school through 8th grade and graduated from Crestwood (Cresco) High School in 1962. She enjoyed tap, ballet and piano lessons as a child and was a teaching assistant to her dance teacher. She participated in choir and speech and was the editor of her high school newspaper. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1966. While in college, she danced with the Orchesis Dance Company. At a campus event one night, Robert (Bob) Beermann, her future husband, recognized “the cute little blonde” who served him ice cream in the dining hall, and asked her to dance. They went on to enjoy eating ice cream together for the next 58 wonderful years. During the summers, she worked as a counselor in Girl Scout camps in southern Illinois and Upstate New York. After a year of teaching in Ames, she embarked on a three-week European tour with her friend Lynn. She later earned her Master's Degree in Education from Viterbo University in Lacrosse, Wisconsin in 1999.

When she returned home from her European tour, she and Bob married in Cresco on July 29, 1967. They lived in West Des Moines where Gail taught 2nd grade until 1970 when they moved to Lakewood where they raised their children Tim, Dan and Shelly. Gail returned to teaching and taught in elementary schools in Norwalk until her retirement in 2009 and was named Teacher of the Year in 2002. This was not a surprise to her siblings as she’d been teaching them from the time they could sit up using her father’s large textbook from Iowa State as her curriculum. They didn’t know that she hadn’t yet learned to read. She never really stopped teaching, and she always had advice for every situation. Being involved in church activities and mentoring others was very important to Gail. She attended Bible study and volunteered for almost every activity available at both Shepherd of the Valley and Christ Our Savior Lutheran churches for many years. Her main focus however, was teaching in the children’s programs.

Gail was the heart and soul of her family. She delighted in time spent with her children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She was kind, compassionate and loving but not to be trifled with. She brought incredible energy everywhere she went whether it was with her book club, Bible study, working out at the Y, or any social situation. She loved interacting with people and could – and did – talk to anyone and everyone! Her great sense of humor was an important part of all her relationships, and she was a cherished friend to many. Gail was eternally curious and enjoyed traveling and learning, especially with her family. She took trips to many states and countries and was able to create family memories on four continents. When Gail and Bob moved to an acreage in 2000, she enjoyed leading her grandchildren on numerous adventures. They left the acreage and moved to a townhouse in Norwalk in 2019.

She loved the Lord passionately and in the end her family prayed for God to grant her peace. On December 22, 2025, He answered that prayer by cradling her in His loving arms and taking her home where she is dancing with the Angels.

Gail is survived by her husband, Bob; children, Tim (Amy) Beermann, Dan Beermann and Shelly (Mike) Batchelder; sister, Margie Morrison; brother, Scott (Lorie) Johnson; sister-in-law, Debbie Beermann and her husband, David Van Dusseldorp; grandchildren, Emily, Benjamin and Abigail Beermann, Lexie (Logan) Foetisch, Sadie (Nate) Bell and Macy Beermann, Evan and Camrie Batchelder; great granddaughter, Mellie Ann Foetisch and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Allen and Patricia Johnson; brother, Barry Johnson; brothers-in-law, Tom Morrison and Ron Beermann and sister-in-law Carol Janssen.

A visitation will be held at Shepherd Of The Valley Lutheran Church (3900 Ashworth Rd, West Des Moines, IA 50265) on January 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be held at a later date in Kendallville, IA. Memorial contributions can be made to Shepherd's Flock early learning Center in memory of Gail.