Osseo, MN - "Gayle reminded me of..." is a sentence that resists completion. The particular combination of grace, curiosity, and kindness that created her beautiful soul was unique. She unconditionally loved her family, deeply respected nature, was genuinely curious about the world, loved music, books, and movies, and she didn't have an arrogant bone in her body. Gayle passed peacefully with loved ones at her side, on October 17, 2025.

Gayle Wynne Van Auken was born in 1935 to Fran and Helen Van Auken in North East Minneapolis. The oldest of five children, Gayle grew up with three brothers and a sister in a loving and hard working home. Her father Fran was a sausage maker in these early days. Gayle remembered him coming home with white wrapped packages under his arm that would become the family's dinner. Her mother Helen made their house a home. Helen was full of life—funny, outgoing, caring, and a force to be reckoned with. In 1944, when Gayle was 9 years old, Fran went off to serve in WWII as a Navy Gunner's Mate. Fran returned home safely after his service and continued his career as a butcher until the day he retired. Fran and Helen loved fishing and in their later years built a summer cabin on the Boy river that flowed into Woman Lake. This cabin would become a source of joy for Gayle and her own family.

Gayle was close to her brothers, and losing Denny and Brad too early was difficult. Though separated by distance, Gayle and her brother Guy remained in touch right up to the weeks before she passed. Guy was mentioned often in conversation, and will no doubt feel her loss. Gayle's sister Diane was as much a friend as a beloved sister. Their crazy antics have given all of us reason to laugh and shake our heads. What a pair!

During her school days, Gayle met her lifelong friend Lynn. They loved and supported each other through school, dating, marriages, raising children, and the loss of loved ones. As it got harder for Gayle to get out, Lynn and Diane both visited often. The last time being just days before Gayle passed.

It was on a double date with Lynn, and Lynn's boyfriend Dale, that Gayle met Roland Moore (more often called Sonny) when she was just 14 years old. Gayle and Sonny wrote letters while he was stationed in Alaska serving in the Korean War from May of 1952 through June of 1954. They were married the following summer and welcomed their first child, Bruce, in early 1956.

First living in Camden, then with Fran and Helen until they could build their own home in the outskirts of Minneapolis.... way out in Brooklyn Center! Bruce would soon be followed by Bonnie, Craig, Steve, and eventually John. Their neighborhood, like so many in the late 50's and 60's was full of families and kids. Boy Scouts, Bluebirds, and Campfire girls, coffee clutches, church on Sundays, over the fence conversations, volleyball games on the court Sonny made, and always packs of kids playing in the yards.

Sonny worked as a draftsmen for FMC, while Gayle was a home maker. Gayle's kids would tell you that she wasn't the greatest cook, and sometimes they poked fun at her hockey puck hamburgers. However they'd also tell you that she made up for her cooking with her baking. Bonnie remembers warm cookies waiting after school, and there were always home made birthday cakes, and Gayle made the best Banana Bread ever.

Gayle was an ardent supporter of her kids, often to the point of being a bit naive which also made her a bit gullible... making for some funny stories during their teenage years. Gayle saw only the good in her children, as she did in everyone.

Gayle and Sonny's first grandchild Maria (Bonnie's daughter) was born in December of 1979, and fast became the apple of her grandparent's eye. Sonny died unexpectedly just a year and a half later at just 50 years old — leaving the family changed forever.

In the years that followed, the number of grand children grew. At her passing Gayle had nine grand children, and ten great grand children.

After Sonny's passing Gayle found a full time job at Daig, a medical device manufacturer where she worked for over 15 years. Gayle enjoyed the people she worked with, and she kept in contact with some of them for many years.

As a single parent, it was just her and John at home for awhile, and Gayle seemed to spread her wings a bit. Like when she bought her white Fiero and smiled when her older kids were a bit shocked. After John left home, she stayed busy creating her "cabin room", collecting and watching hundreds of movies, hanging out with her grand kids, and staying up way too late at night... often on her Nordic Track after giving in to her love of ice cream.

Eventually, Gayle retired and left her home to live with Bruce. During this time she enjoyed long nature walks, wonderful meals (Bruce was an excellent cook), and finally some time to herself. Gayle may have gotten her fascination with nature from her mother Helen, but it was also something she had in common with her kids. She was in awe of the natural world around her and watched nature shows on PBS with the wonder of a child, fascinated by every discovery. "Ain't nature grand?!" she'd often say—and she meant it every single time.

After suffering a stroke granddaughter Maria and her family opened their home to Gayle for a time helping her regain her strength. A year later Gayle moved to an assisted living facility. In her senior living apartment Gayle stayed busy growing plants in her sunny space, reading books, watching PBS, writing letters, and always wondering where the days went. Her children visited often, taking her out for adventures. Her son Bruce called every evening to exchange news of their days. We lost Bruce unexpectedly in 2021, which again changed the family forever. Gayle was Bruce's last Valentines date— which will make you smile if you knew him.

Until she became less mobile, Gayle enjoyed Holiday dinners at Mark and Maria's, John and Pam's and Craig and Chrissy's. Bonnie was a daily visitor, and Maria and her family visited often as well. Her sons visited and called often always making her laugh. She also kept up with everyone via text. Her cell phone was both something she liked and often cursed. One time complaining to her son Craig that it would ring at the most inopportune times— like just when she was headed to the bathroom, and so she'd have to turn around and get back to the table it sat on before it stopped beeping. To which Craig said "You know Mom, you don't HAVE to answer it"... and to which she looked at him like this was a new thought and laughed out loud. Gayle marveled at the world with this kind of technology but didn't like the fast pace it seemed to bring. She often wondered about "what things will be like" when her great grand children were adults— she wished she could see it.

Gayle enjoyed the simple things in life, and laughed easily with those she loved. Her easy and loving way endeared her to her children and grand children. In her final months, though Gayle was ready to leave this earth, she still laughed easily — especially with her children. She loved poking fun at herself and seeing the humor in every day happenings. Her willingness to laugh and find the humor in situations was one of her greatest gifts.

Gayle believed firmly in the idea that people should be able to decide when it was time to leave this earth, and she had been ready for quite awhile. She felt her life was no longer the way life should be. As her mobility decreased, and with it her ability to take care of herself, she spoke often of being ready to go. Gayle knew with great certainty what awaited her after death, and there is no doubt she knew she was loved, and wanted everyone to know what a "great family" she had.

Bonnie found this poem among the stationery and pieces of paper with sayings jotted down that Gayle kept near her. Always organized into paper-clipped piles and secured by one of the rubber bands she kept around her wrist.

"Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow, remember me in every tomorrow. My going has eased my pain and given relief, so dry your eyes... and cease your grief. Remember the joy, our laughter, my smile and that our being apart is just for a little while. Remember me also as I used to be. Understand in your hearts, so precious to me, that I'm here with our Lord, in heaven above, and 'til we're once more together... You have all my love."

In her final days she looked forward to going and to seeing her son Bruce and all her loved ones that passed before her. We will all miss her dearly in our own ways, but will remember her always with a smile. Her leaving creates a space that can't be filled because there simply is no one like her.

Gayle is survived by her beloved daughter Bonnie, sons Craig, Steve and John, and each of their families including 9 grandchildren (Maria, Nick, Sean, Katie, Rachel, Walker, Kirsten, Zachary, and Samuel; and 10 great grandchildren (Andrew, Abby, Ali Mae, Joey, Megan, Luca, Charlie, SJ, Adeline, Lyla, and one more angel on the way.)

She is also survived by brother Guy, sister Diane and many beloved nieces and nephews as well as great-nieces and great-nephews and their families.

Gayle was preceded in death by too many people to name, but most notably her son Bruce, husband Roland (Sonny), brothers Denny and Brad, and parents Fran and Helen.

If you'd like to memorialize Gayle, pick an organization you find befitting, or, in lieu of flowers or memorials, remember Gayle by doing what she did... enjoy the natural world, and find ways to laugh.

We wish you all peace and thank you for helping us keep Gayle's memory alive.

The Moore Family