Bryce W. Gause 77, of Lynnville, passed away Sept. 20, 2018, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.
Bryce was born July 10, 1941, in New Sharon, the son of Lory W. and Helen McConeghey Gause. He was raised in Lynnville and was a 1959 graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School. He attended the University of Iowa for two years.
June 30, 1963, he was united in marriage with Sheila Mae Clark at the Marion Lutheran Church in Gunder. Shortly after their marriage, he was drafted and served in the United States Army from 1963 to 1967. The couple lived in Leominster, Massachusetts, near Ft. Deavens during that time. After his honorable discharge, they moved to Indianola where he enrolled at Simpson College and received a degree in accounting.
He started his banking career at Peoples Trust and Savings Bank in Indianola, working part-time as a teller while attending Simpson and was hired full-time following his graduation. They moved to Lynnville in 1980 when he became president and CEO of 1st State Bank. He retired in late 2006 and continued to serve on the bank board until May 2018. Bryce was recently recognized by his peers in the Iowa Bankers Association for 50 years of service in banking.
While living in Indianola, Bryce was active in and served as president of several organizations including Kiwanis, Warren County United Fund, Indianola Country Club, and Indianola Balloons where he developed a life-long interest in hot air ballooning. He continued this interest after moving to Lynnville and attended all but one of the Indianola balloon events.
He served Lynnville and the surrounding area serving as president of the Grinnell Country Club, Diamond Trail Golf Club, Lynnville Chamber of Commerce, Lynnville Development, and Jasper County Economic Development. Two of his proudest accomplishments were working with the extension service to establish the Lynnville Marketing Club, which now serves farmers in Jasper and Poweshiek Counties, and being one of the incorporators and president of the Lynnville-Sully Community Education Foundation. Bryce was an avid golfer and Hawkeye fan. He enjoyed reading, traveling, and visiting family and long-time friends from Indianola.
Survivors include his wife, Sheila of Lynnville, one brother, Lester (Kay) of Newton; two sisters, Nancy Barnhouse of Vero Beach, FL, and Joan (Gary) Ales of Lakewood Ranch, FL; two sisters-in-law, Peggy Gause of Roanoke, VA, and Susan Bandy of Houston, TX; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Charles and Russell Gause; and one sister, Jeanne Buls.
A private family graveside service will be held at a later date at the Woodland Cemetery in Lynnville.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorial contributions be made to the Lynnville-Sully Community Education Foundation or the Lynnville Historical Society.
