Gayle Stertz

Gayle Frances Stertz left to embrace her Savior peacefully at the age of 86 years on Oct. 3, 2026, in Johnston, Iowa. This world lost a faithful servant to Christ, her husband lost his loving wife of 67 years, her family lost its emotional center.

Born in St. Louis, Gayle lived most of her life in Kirkwood, MO, the eldest of three children raised by Winfred and Frances Kamp. From her earliest years, Gayle lived a life rooted in deep family devotion. She idolized her father, the president of a savings and loan association, inherited his love for travel, and laid claim to his “surveyor’s eye.” We can be assured that no picture frames will look askew moving forward in Heaven.

After high school she moved across the state to attend William Jewell College where she met a tall, angular dark-haired boy known around campus as “Slats” on a blind date during her initial campus visit. They fell deeply in love as confirmed by her shipments of chocolate chip cookies to him, and her willingness to overlook his habit of pulling coins out of his pocket to level-set expectations about date night menu options.

She also had a shiny silver ’57 Chevy Bel Air with a flashy red interior that struggled to compete with her natural blonde beauty but nonetheless added to her appeal.

In short order – before graduating college – they married and Gayle became a Mommy at age 20 beginning a life journey dedicated to her husband, children and eventually their children through all of the triumphs and trials life can throw a family’s way.

As a young mother with a husband who worked full-time while finishing his degree, Gayle became an expert home economist scanning ads for the lowest weekly prices on staples, relentlessly clipping coupons with her “little scissors.” Along the way, she became a talented chef who learned to hack the recipes for her husband’s favorite drive-in onion rings and St. Louis’ famed gooey butter coffee cake.

Each of the small sacrifices and stay-at-home savings added to opportunities to travel with her family. She loved planning all the details associated with trips to virtually every U.S. state and international destinations. A family trip to the Holy Land was in the works when Gayle suffered a stroke that greatly limited her outward mobility and led to the move to Iowa where more support could be provided and new friendships were waiting to be forged.

Gayle never claimed to be much of a technologist – or even a typist. But as her children grew, she poured her eye for style and love for planning into a new venture curating weddings and other events under the shingle Signature Wedding and Event Services. Her talents resulted in many happy weddings, her own high school reunion and even collaborating on celebrity-commissioned soirées.

Gayle is survived by her husband Arthur Lee Stertz of Johnston. She was the loving mother of two sons Brad (Lori) of Purcellville, VA, and Brian (Debbie) of Lenexa, KS, and her daughter Wendy Liskey (Eric) of West Des Moines, IA. She was filled with love and never tired of hearing all about her grandchildren Katie and Claire, Jeremy (Kayla), Jonathan and Alexis, as well as her great-grandchildren Adelynn and Rylan. She is also survived by her sister, Janet Garnett.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the Skilled Care Team at Brio of Johnston and Wesley Life Hospice for their compassionate and outstanding care and support.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Gayle’s honor to Wesley Life Good Samaritan Fund for Brio, 6901 Peckham Street, Johnston, IA 50131 or Wesley Life Hospice of Johnston (www.wesleylife.org/foundation/donate-now).

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Iles Jordan Creek Chapel, 7150 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, IA, with a reception to follow. Private interment will be at Resthaven Cemetery, West Des Moines. The service will be live-streamed. Please visit Gayle’s obituary page at www.IlesCares.com for the link, additional information and to leave online condolences.

Arrangements by Iles Jordan Creek Chapel.