Harriet 'Hat' Gidel

Harriet (Hat) O. Gidel, 97, of Rockwell City, Iowa, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2021, at Shady Oaks Care Center in Lake City. Hat is survived by her sons, Steve (Barb) Gidel, Twin Lakes; and Dave (Mary) Gidel, Twin Lakes; and daughters Jayne (Steve) Hamilton, New Port Richey, FL; and Jacqueline Dawson, Scottsdale, AZ; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Mary Gidel, Clearwater, FL; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, her infant son Tommy; infant daughter Tricia; her parents, Fred and Tempe Fitts Schlachter and sister Marion Louise Schlachter. Harriet Olivia Schlachter was born on January 11, 1924, in Rockwell City, Iowa. She graduated from Rockwell City High School in 1941 and attended the University of Iowa where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and a member of the first female University of Iowa Scottish Highlander bagpipers. On April 24, 1944, Hat was united in marriage with Dale Gidel in Rockwell City. They made their home in Corpus Christi and Dallas, Texas, while Dale was in the Navy during World War II. After his discharge from active duty, they returned and made their home in Rockwell City until moving to North Twin Lake where they spent the next 20 years. In 1995, they moved to Ankeny, Iowa, where they participated in the construction and operation of Briarwood Golf Course. In 1998, they both retired and moved to Sun Lakes, California, and later to Sun City West, Arizona. In 2004, it was "back home" to Rockwell City. Throughout her life, Hat was involved with the community. She taught dance lessons starting in eighth grade and again after returning from Dallas. She worked at the Advocate newspaper and was the bookkeeper at Gidel and Knop Insurance and Real Estate Agency for several years. For 19 years she was the Twin Lakes Golf Club manager. She served on the Rockwell City School Board for a total of 9 years and was president for 5 years. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter EG, Friends of the Library board, Reading Circle and St. Francis Alter Society. Hat loved to play bridge, sew, and spend time with her family. Memorials may be left to P.E.O. International. SERVICES Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 AM - Wednesday September 8, 2021 St. Francis Catholic Church Rockwell City, Iowa OFFICIATING Father Lynn Bruch VISITATION Come and Go visitation for friends Tuesday 4:00 to 7:00 PM Tuesday - Sept. 7, 2021 Palmer and Swank Funeral Home Rockwell City, Iowa **With Covid 19 still prevalent - the family will not be present at the visitation. INTERMENT St. Francis Catholic Cemetery Rockwell City, Iowa