Gisela Schongalla

Gisela was born to Otto and Herta Evert on April 13, 1927, at Spandau, Berlin, Germany. She had a very interesting childhood in Germany with her beloved brother, Gerd Evert. She led an active childhood and had many stories to tell about her friends and their many adventures. Many of her early friendships lasted a lifetime. As a young teen she completed teacher training in Poland during World War II.

After the war, she worked as a Russian interpreter for the U.S. government. While working at an Army PX, she met Army Capt. William Schongalla Jr. They were married April 26, 1950, in Stuttgart, Germany. They were stationed in Virginia; San Antonio, Texas; Orleans, France; Fort Ord, Calif.; Landstuhl, Germany; and again in Texas. While William was stationed in Korea, Gisela held down the home front and cared for five children. When William retired from the Army in 1967, they moved to Cottonwood and then to Moscow in 1982. After William's death in 1982, Gisela moved to Clarkston.

In addition to caring for her family, Gisela also worked outside of the home. She owned a thrift store in Grangeville, operated a cantina at the Job Corps station in Cottonwood, and was the director of the Asotin County Parks and Recreation District. As the director, she enjoyed helping recent parolees and those with developmental disabilities find employment. Gisela also served on the Head Start board for a number of years. She retired at age 75.

Gisela had many interests. She was passionate about competitive bridge. She also enjoyed golf, fishing, picking berries and mushrooms, gardening, knitting/crocheting, German cooking and baking, yard sales, second-hand stores, shoes, clothes and antiques. Her favorite holiday was Christmas and it was a big event for the family. She had many good times with her friends from the Camas Prairie and Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. In 1989, she returned to East Berlin after the Wall fell to visit relatives and where she grew up.

Gisela was preceded in death by her husband, William; parents Otto and Herta; son Scott; daughter-in-law Sally; and granddaughter Sarah.

She is survived by her brother, Gerd, of St. Cloud, Fla.; son Glen of Post Falls, Idaho; daughter Sandy of Pullman; son Mark of Madras, Ore.; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. We love you and will miss you Mom. Donations in her name can be made to the Lewis-Clark Early Childhood Program, 1816 18th Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501.