Mariella Gutzmer died peacefully from advanced dementia February 27, 2018, three days before her 97 ^th birthday.  Hers was a life well lived.

Mariella was born March 2, 1921, in Monroe, Wisconsin, the fifth child of John and Emma (Divan) Reed.  Her father died before her birth.  Upon graduating from Broadhead (WI) High School, she entered Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Freeport, IL., earning a Registered Nurse (RN) license upon completion.  After graduation, she joined the Army AirCorps as a 2 ^nd Lieutenant.  She married Harold Gutzmer February 24, 1945 while still in the service.  Following her discharge, she moved to Stockton, IL where she and Harold farmed for 50 years.  During this time, Mariella did private duty nursing and then worked in the local doctor's office.  She was often caring for an ill patient all day and then came home to plow a field for corn.  Mariella enjoyed playing cards with friends, deer hunting, woodworking and making homemade ice cream. In retirement, Harold and Mariella spent winters in the Palm Springs, CA area where they played golf, participated in water aerobics and met another circle of friends. Her husband of 52 years, preceded her in death in 1997.

Surviving her are children, Kay Lang, Snohomish, WA/Indian Wells, CA, Dennis (Annelle) Gutzmer, Georgetown, IN, Diane (Gary) Ackerman, Oklahoma City, OK; three grandchildren, Jamie (Brock) Gilman, Seattle, WA, Mike (Michelle) Ackerman, Flower Mound, TX, Mark (Shannan) Ackerman, Bentonville, AR; three great-grandchildren, Christopher Lang, Natalie Lang, both of Bellingham, WA, Cade Ackerman, Bentonville, AR; two step-grandchildren, Geoffrey (Christie) Lang, Snohomish, WA, Ken (Sas) Lang, New York City, NY; sister, Faith Maddix of Ashville, NC; sisters-in-law, Ruth (Ken) Lawson, Des Moines, IA, Katharine Reed, Waco, TX, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Christ Lutheran Church, Stockton, IL with visitation at 10:00 am, funeral at 11:00 am and burial in Ladies Union Cemetery with military honors at 12:00 pm.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to your favorite charity with a focus on helping those in need.