Kimberly Gummert

The beautiful soul of Kimberly Gummert, age 67, of rural Gilman, left this earthly life on the evening of Wednesday, April 23rd.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 1st, at the Ferguson Bible Church with Pastor Darren Young officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Lutheran Cemetery of Dillon. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a cause close to her heart- Treasured by God Ministry or Treasure Chest Food Pantry, both in Gilman.

Born Kimberly Gooding on January 13th, 1958, in Marshalltown, she was the daughter of Kenneth Earl and Darlene Alma (Callison) Gooding. She began her education in the Marshalltown schools, followed by LDF. During her senior year, the family moved and she graduated from the Benton Community School in 1976.

While waitressing at the Pig Pen in Marshalltown and on an evening in 1978, a handsome young man by the name of Joel Gummert (who was also sporting long hair and an afro!) caught her eye. She said right then he was the one she would marry! Well, she was right, and on August 4th, 1979, they were united in marriage at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marshalltown. Except for the years living near Nashville, TN, they made their home in this area where she did in-home daycare, owned J&K Diner in Laurel and worked at the Iowa Veterans Home in food service, retiring in 2023.

A true example of a selfless person, she focused her life on giving to others and helping anyone out. Recently elected president of the Treasured by God and Treasure Chest Food Pantry as president is just a couple of her passions to help others. Always putting others needs before hers and never knowing a stranger is what made her enduring to many people. Morning coffee on her “veranda”, canning with Joel, making taco salad and time with family were precious and having that “perfect” outfit for every event at any time and for any day was important!

Having blessed her life are Joel, her loving husband of 45.5 years; her children- Kevin Gummert of Blue Springs, MO and Lauren (Lance) Miller of rural Gilman; grandchildren-Dylan (Presley) Miller of Ames, Devon Miller (Thea Beard) and their son Brooks of Colo, Ashlyn Miller and her son Barrett of Gilman, Addison Miller (Andrew Grandstaff) of Gilman and twins Krysta and Kaedyn Miller of Gilman; her mother Darlene of Marshalltown; siblings- Jeff (Debbie) Gooding of Boulder, CO, Lisa (David) Shavnore of St. Joseph, MO, Tim (Joyce) Gooding of Kansas City, MO, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, the Gummert family and friends.

In death, she rejoined her dad, grandchild Finley Quinn Gummert, and her in-laws Arnold, Aloma and Evelyn Gummert.