Gacella "Gussie" Richards, 90, of Albany died Sunday at Farm Country Care Adult Foster Care. Born in Wilhelmshaven, Germany to Fred & Erna (Kollatsch) Oetken, her father immigrated to the US through Ellis Island in 1923. Two years later Gacella, her mother and older sister Erna immigrated to the US through Canada and established their home in LeMars, Iowa. In 1933 the family moved to Greenfield, Iowa where the family bought the Sno-White Bakery.
Gacella graduated from Greenfield High School in 1940, and married her high school sweetheart, Robert D. Richards in August of 1941 and they moved to Corvallis where her husband worked for Dubois Cleaners and Gacella worked at a bakery. When Bob was drafted in 1943, he took Gacella back to Iowa where their daughter Kathy was born later that year. Bob was wounded in France and returned to the states in 1946.
After Bob's recovery, the family moved back to Corvallis and daughters Barbara and Patty were born. In 1952 they moved to Abany and bought Sissell Cleaners with Bob's brother Ron. Son Rob was born in 1957, finally bringing a boy to the family mix. Both Bob and Gussie worked many hours at the renamed Richards Cleaners. They both were active in the United Presbyterian Church, PTA, and various civic organizations. They sold Richards Cleaners in 1989 and spent the next four years on the family farm, staying busy with gardening and the livestock. They enjoyed traveling, including trips to Europe, Russia, Hong Kong, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other states.
Bob was killed in an accident in 1993, and Gussie sold the farm and moved back into Albany. She traveled with her family and sister, including following OSU football and basketball to away games.
Gussie found a special place in the "short people pew" at the United Presbyterian Church, and for many years she and Erna would go to early morning swim aerobics. She was a lifelong Eastern Star member and served on the Linn County Election Board. She loved her massages and reflexology.
In 2011 Gussie moved to Farm Country Care where she met many new friends. Fondly known as "GG", her heart was warm and generous beyond her size. GG is survived by children Kathy Garner, Barbara and her husband Rod Keller, Patty and her husband Gary Davenport, and Rob and his wife Debbi Richards; grandchildren Jeff and his wife Claire Garner, Tiffany and her husband Mark Snyder, Kelly and her husband Troy Tidwell, Stacey and her husband Brian Hovelsrud, Bobby Richards, and Ryan Richards; great grandchildren Alex Hovelsrud, Quinn & Peyton Snyder, and Reagan & Jack Tidwell; and sisters Erna Packard and Nellie Miller. Gussie was preceded in death by her sister Elizabeth Shurson and son in law Gary Garner.
Gacella graduated from Greenfield High School in 1940, and married her high school sweetheart, Robert D. Richards in August of 1941 and they moved to Corvallis where her husband worked for Dubois Cleaners and Gacella worked at a bakery. When Bob was drafted in 1943, he took Gacella back to Iowa where their daughter Kathy was born later that year. Bob was wounded in France and returned to the states in 1946.
After Bob's recovery, the family moved back to Corvallis and daughters Barbara and Patty were born. In 1952 they moved to Abany and bought Sissell Cleaners with Bob's brother Ron. Son Rob was born in 1957, finally bringing a boy to the family mix. Both Bob and Gussie worked many hours at the renamed Richards Cleaners. They both were active in the United Presbyterian Church, PTA, and various civic organizations. They sold Richards Cleaners in 1989 and spent the next four years on the family farm, staying busy with gardening and the livestock. They enjoyed traveling, including trips to Europe, Russia, Hong Kong, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other states.
Bob was killed in an accident in 1993, and Gussie sold the farm and moved back into Albany. She traveled with her family and sister, including following OSU football and basketball to away games.
Gussie found a special place in the "short people pew" at the United Presbyterian Church, and for many years she and Erna would go to early morning swim aerobics. She was a lifelong Eastern Star member and served on the Linn County Election Board. She loved her massages and reflexology.
In 2011 Gussie moved to Farm Country Care where she met many new friends. Fondly known as "GG", her heart was warm and generous beyond her size. GG is survived by children Kathy Garner, Barbara and her husband Rod Keller, Patty and her husband Gary Davenport, and Rob and his wife Debbi Richards; grandchildren Jeff and his wife Claire Garner, Tiffany and her husband Mark Snyder, Kelly and her husband Troy Tidwell, Stacey and her husband Brian Hovelsrud, Bobby Richards, and Ryan Richards; great grandchildren Alex Hovelsrud, Quinn & Peyton Snyder, and Reagan & Jack Tidwell; and sisters Erna Packard and Nellie Miller. Gussie was preceded in death by her sister Elizabeth Shurson and son in law Gary Garner.
Gacella "Gussie" Richards, 90, of Albany died Sunday at Farm Country Care Adult Foster Care. Born in Wilhelmshaven, Germany to Fred & Erna (Kollatsch) Oetken, her father immigrated to the US through Ellis Island in 1923. Two years later Gacella, her mother and older sister Erna immigrated to the US through Canada and established their home in LeMars, Iowa. In 1933 the family moved to Greenfield, Iowa where the family bought the Sno-White Bakery.
Gacella graduated from Greenfield High School in 1940, and married her high school sweetheart, Robert D. Richards in August of 1941 and they moved to Corvallis where her husband worked for Dubois Cleaners and Gacella worked at a bakery. When Bob was drafted in 1943, he took Gacella back to Iowa where their daughter Kathy was born later that year. Bob was wounded in France and returned to the states in 1946.
After Bob's recovery, the family moved back to Corvallis and daughters Barbara and Patty were born. In 1952 they moved to Abany and bought Sissell Cleaners with Bob's brother Ron. Son Rob was born in 1957, finally bringing a boy to the family mix. Both Bob and Gussie worked many hours at the renamed Richards Cleaners. They both were active in the United Presbyterian Church, PTA, and various civic organizations. They sold Richards Cleaners in 1989 and spent the next four years on the family farm, staying busy with gardening and the livestock. They enjoyed traveling, including trips to Europe, Russia, Hong Kong, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other states.
Bob was killed in an accident in 1993, and Gussie sold the farm and moved back into Albany. She traveled with her family and sister, including following OSU football and basketball to away games.
Gussie found a special place in the "short people pew" at the United Presbyterian Church, and for many years she and Erna would go to early morning swim aerobics. She was a lifelong Eastern Star member and served on the Linn County Election Board. She loved her massages and reflexology.
In 2011 Gussie moved to Farm Country Care where she met many new friends. Fondly known as "GG", her heart was warm and generous beyond her size. GG is survived by children Kathy Garner, Barbara and her husband Rod Keller, Patty and her husband Gary Davenport, and Rob and his wife Debbi Richards; grandchildren Jeff and his wife Claire Garner, Tiffany and her husband Mark Snyder, Kelly and her husband Troy Tidwell, Stacey and her husband Brian Hovelsrud, Bobby Richards, and Ryan Richards; great grandchildren Alex Hovelsrud, Quinn & Peyton Snyder, and Reagan & Jack Tidwell; and sisters Erna Packard and Nellie Miller. Gussie was preceded in death by her sister Elizabeth Shurson and son in law Gary Garner.
Gacella graduated from Greenfield High School in 1940, and married her high school sweetheart, Robert D. Richards in August of 1941 and they moved to Corvallis where her husband worked for Dubois Cleaners and Gacella worked at a bakery. When Bob was drafted in 1943, he took Gacella back to Iowa where their daughter Kathy was born later that year. Bob was wounded in France and returned to the states in 1946.
After Bob's recovery, the family moved back to Corvallis and daughters Barbara and Patty were born. In 1952 they moved to Abany and bought Sissell Cleaners with Bob's brother Ron. Son Rob was born in 1957, finally bringing a boy to the family mix. Both Bob and Gussie worked many hours at the renamed Richards Cleaners. They both were active in the United Presbyterian Church, PTA, and various civic organizations. They sold Richards Cleaners in 1989 and spent the next four years on the family farm, staying busy with gardening and the livestock. They enjoyed traveling, including trips to Europe, Russia, Hong Kong, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other states.
Bob was killed in an accident in 1993, and Gussie sold the farm and moved back into Albany. She traveled with her family and sister, including following OSU football and basketball to away games.
Gussie found a special place in the "short people pew" at the United Presbyterian Church, and for many years she and Erna would go to early morning swim aerobics. She was a lifelong Eastern Star member and served on the Linn County Election Board. She loved her massages and reflexology.
In 2011 Gussie moved to Farm Country Care where she met many new friends. Fondly known as "GG", her heart was warm and generous beyond her size. GG is survived by children Kathy Garner, Barbara and her husband Rod Keller, Patty and her husband Gary Davenport, and Rob and his wife Debbi Richards; grandchildren Jeff and his wife Claire Garner, Tiffany and her husband Mark Snyder, Kelly and her husband Troy Tidwell, Stacey and her husband Brian Hovelsrud, Bobby Richards, and Ryan Richards; great grandchildren Alex Hovelsrud, Quinn & Peyton Snyder, and Reagan & Jack Tidwell; and sisters Erna Packard and Nellie Miller. Gussie was preceded in death by her sister Elizabeth Shurson and son in law Gary Garner.
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