Gayle D. Harrell

Gaylord D. Harrell

Gayle Harrell passed away on October 12, 2026, five days shy of celebrating a 73rd wedding anniversary with “the love of his life” Carol (Ulrich) Harrell. He was at home with his beloved wife and family members when he left this world to meet his Savior in heaven. It is often hard to think of Gayle and Carol as individuals as they believed deeply that they were one through holy matrimony and their faith in the one true God.

Gayle was born on September 29, 1932, in Jackson, Michigan, to C. Dewey Harrell and Gertrude (Shust) Harrell. While he grew up in the Great Depression, he shared many stories of the fun and adventure that he enjoyed with friends, his sister Betty, and brother Gil. He graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1950, briefly attended college in Sault Ste. Marie, and returned home to work alongside his father doing sheet metal work. He joined the Navy in 1951 and got up the courage to ask Carol to marry him at Christmas in 1952. They were married in the fall of 1953. They then moved to Washington D.C. where Gayle served in the Navy until his honorable discharge in 1954. They returned to Big Rapids and welcomed their first child in 1955 before heading to Michigan Tech in Houghton, Michigan where Gayle earned his degree in mechanical engineering in 1960.

Gayle and Carol eventually settled in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1962 where Gayle worked as a mechanical engineer for Trane Company until his retirement in 1993. He enjoyed his work and was awarded numerous patents for his engineering designs. His work had him travel to many places around the world and he always returned with small gifts and trinkets for Carol and their four daughters. Being a devout family man, he was happy at home and spent time with his daughters playing in the yard, fishing, camping, or building and renovating to create the perfect home for his family. He instilled a love of sports in his daughters who remember Sunday afternoons watching football with Dad or cheering for the Brewers. He was the “best girl dad EVER!” He commented at their 50th wedding anniversary celebration that, “the only luxury he and Carol afforded themselves were their daughters,” and his daughters felt great comfort in his love and care.

Gayle also had many friends through Faith Lutheran Church and Trane Company. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing and many laughs with special friends Harold, Leroy, and Dick.

Later in life Gayle enjoyed watching and cheering on his grandchildren at their sporting events, spending many hours sitting in grandstands or on bleachers. He was so very proud of all his grandchildren and their accomplishments. Gayle was a skilled craftsman who designed and built beautiful cabinets and furniture for his family and friends. In retirement he also enjoyed carving wood, creating many carvings that will forever be cherished for the love that went into every piece.

Gayle is survived by his loving wife Carol, his daughters Leslie (Dale) Svendsen, Liz (Dave) Jacobson, Amy (Mike) Thornton, Katie Ulrich Harrell (John Clifford Myers); grandchildren Joseph (Jillian) Svendsen, David Svendsen, Lydia (Josh) Svenulski, Hunter (Megan) Lange, Ava (Tyler) Leadholm, Calvin Thornton, Benjamin (April) Thornton, Olivia Felland, Max Felland, Lucy Felland; great grandchildren Henry and Augustus Svendsen, Freya Svenulski, Roman Lange, Xander Thornton, and Brooks Thornton; sister Betty Dever and brother Gilbert (Susie) Harrell; his sisters-in-law Nadine Johnson and Kathy Paul.

Services will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 1407 Main Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin, with Pastor Paul Mundinger officiating. Visitation will be held prior to services starting at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will be held at the church following the service.

The family would like to thank their many friends and family members for their love and support during this time, and the special folks who cared for Gayle with respect and compassion, and supported the family in his home, Mary, Crissy, Nikki, Jennie, Emily, and especially Jeanette and Dalton.

In lieu of flowers the family requests gifts to The Salvation Army, Faith Lutheran Church, or the Harrell-Thornton Family Scholarship fund at Western Technical College.