Nancy B. Gull

GARNAVILLO, IOWA

Nancy Belle Taylor Gull died peacefully on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Tower Living Center in Garnavillo at 100 years of age. Nancy was born October 7, 1925, in Hartford, Connecticut, the daughter of William H. Taylor and Alice (Janes) Taylor.

Nancy trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior on April 18, 1934, at eight years old. This was the most important event in her life and directed her focus to the end. On May 6, 1937, at age 11, she watched the Hindenburg airship pass over her school in Hartford. It exploded while docking in Lakehurst, NJ. On December 7, 1941, Nancy remembered coming home from the Sunday evening gospel service as newsboys were crying the news of the Pearl Harbor attack. Her older brother Billy enlisted in the US Navy shortly after at age 17. (While he was deployed, the Japanese Imperial Navy paid for a floral arrangement to be delivered to the family home with a note reading, "Deepest sympathy, JIN," implying her brother was killed in action. But this was just an attempt at psychological warfare, and Billy returned home safely after his tour was complete.) During WWII, Nancy was a civil defense volunteer, monitoring and recording incoming planes, on alert for enemy bombers. Nancy was the only one in her civil defense training able to distinguish between the odors of 20 different poisonous gases.

After the war, Nancy met General Jonathan Wainwright in a parade viewing stand shortly after he was released from a Japanese POW camp. After graduating from high school, Nancy worked for Sears Roebuck selling guns and then worked for the Fuller Brush Company. On January 27, 1956, Nancy married Larry Lew Gull in East Hartford, CT. They made their home on a farm north of Garnavillo, Iowa, and were happily married for nearly 58 years before Larry was taken home to heaven in 2013. Nancy was well known for her hospitality and her earnest prayers for all who knew her.

Nancy is survived by her two sons: Kevin (Jackie) Gull of Guttenberg and Timothy (Tina) Gull of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren: Audra (Steven) Janes of Garnavillo, Rachel (Ethan) Entsminger of Manchester, Jenn (Adam) Kutsch of Delmar, Spencer Gull of Garnavillo, Lydia (Josh) Sax of Coralville, and Jule (Kenny) Day of Cedar Rapids; six great-grandchildren: Aiyana and Rowan Janes, Otto Entsminger, Jasper and Atticus Kutsch, and Griffin Day; and her sister, Susan Heller of Granby, CT. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Larry and her brother, Bill Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to 27918 Hwy 52, Guttenberg IA, 52052, where donations will be made to local charities and organizations. Visitation will be held from 9 - 11 a.m. Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Garnavillo Gospel Hall, 506 S Washington St., Garnavillo, Iowa where funeral service will commence at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Garnavillo Community Cemetery.

Morris Funeral Home in Garnavillo is assisting the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.