Harold David Gaskill

Harold D. Gaskill, 87, passed away Thursday, April 4, 2019. Services to be at a later date (contact a family member for more information). Condolences can be sent to 5045 Apache Place, Pocatello, ID 83204. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Caring Hearts Assisted Living, Pocatello, Idaho and all his caregivers at Encompass Home Health and Hospice. Harold was born September 29, 1931 to Verona Elizabeth (Kline) and Everett Augustus Gaskill, in Mattoon, Illinois, the youngest of six. In 1951, after one year of accounting at Eastern Illinois University, he enlisted in the Marines, serving aboard the famed USS Missouri (BB63), site of the Japanese surrender, during its second tour of the Korean combat zone (May 11, 1951 to May 20 1953), receiving four medals: Korean Service medal, United Nations medal, China Service medal, and National Defense Service medal; honorable discharged in early 1954. In Chicago, Illinois, January 29, 1955, he married Jeanette Elaine Shepherd (Jan), of Liberty, Missouri. They had four children. He became a draftsman in crane design for Whiting Corporation in Harvey, Illinois, and later at Joyce Dayton in Dayton Ohio. Upon retiring, he studied and became a Realtor for Red Hill Real Estate and later, Coldwell Banker. He is survived by sons, Kurt (Cheryl), Alexandria, Virginia, Keith, Chicago, Illinois, and Kerry, Champaign, Illinois; daughter, Kim (Greg), Pocatello, Idaho; grandson, Jake, Champaign, Illinois; sister Ella Mae Key, Montrose, Illinois; step grandsons Nick (Johnelle) and Tom Stoltz, Pocatello, Idaho, Danielle (Andrew Pellum) Brown, Jason Brown (Bambi), Josh Recker, Champaign, Illinois; step great-grandchildren, Bryson, Aften and Ace Stoltz, Pocatello, Idaho, Tannis Pellum, Jonas Pellum, Kayla Recker, Jaden Recker, Destiny Stumborg, Chaiz Stumborg, Champaign, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Jan, three sisters, Margaret Hinchee, Mildred Stephens, Rosalee Sullivan and one brother, Robert. He was a competitor for sure, throughout his life. He loved poker and card games, slot machines, pachinko, golf, bowling, pocket billiards and stock market investing. Losing sight in his right eye never deterred him from participating in these activities. He enjoyed teaching pocket billiards to his children and grandson. He even attempted to learn guitar, saxophone and Spanish on his own. Harold played the role of honorary "grandfather" to the children of his Centerville neighbors Greg and Jenn Kerr (Dean, Shelby, Sydney, Savannah and Dawson), who took great care of him especially after his wifes passing. Harold had been active at the Senior Center in both Centerville, Ohio, and Pocatello, Idaho. He will be greatly missed.