Vicki Gach

Mary Victoria (Vicki) Gach, age 74, of Carroll, IA, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 17, 2026 at her home surrounded by family.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant for the Mass will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Fr. Allen Reicks will concelebrate the Mass. Lectors for the Mass will be Eva Murphy and Margaret Gach. Eucharistic Ministers Bill and Amy Gerhardt. Gift Bearers Peter Woodruff and Charlie Woodruff. Honorary pall bearers will be Vicki’s nieces and nephews. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.

A livestream of Vicki's Funeral Mass will be available approximately 10 minuets prior to the service and may be viewed by clicking on this link: https://youtube.com/live/3nZ-fOkwbIo?feature=share

Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll from 5 – 7 P.M. on Friday where there will be a Christian Wake Service Held at 7:00 P.M. Additional visitation will be held at Holy Spirit Church from 9:30 – 10:15 A.M. on Saturday prior to the Mass.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoohouse.com

Vicki was the daughter of Frank and Margaret (Karl) Gach. She was born March 31, 1952, in Chicago, IL. She moved with her family to Carroll in 1955. Vicki graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School as valedictorian of her class in 1970. She graduated in 1974 from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA degree in English and in 1980 from Iowa State University with an MA degree in English.

Vicki taught English and the yearbook program in Iowa a total of 42 years—at Spalding High School in Granville; St. John High School in Independence; Iowa State University in Ames; Senior High School in Fort Dodge; and Carroll High School (1993 – 2016) in Carroll—before her retirement in 2016.

She was passionate about researching and documenting the history of Carroll and, with Carolyn Siemann, in getting both Graham Park and the Carroll Cemetery officially recognized as National Historical Sites. Her most recent initiative is the restoration of the Band Shell in Graham Park. In addition to numerous brochures and calendars for Carroll’s Historical Preservation Commission, and Historical and Heritage Societies, she co-authored a book on the history of Merchants Park. She was a key driver behind the many plaques visible on most buildings in the downtown area and Merchants Park, recording the history of the building sites and its tenants over the past century.

For multiple summers, she voluntarily took on the tedious painting and preserving of the black wrought iron fence on the WPA stone walls surrounding the cemetery. She also spearheaded the restoration of a cemetery tool shed into a museum open to all. Additionally, she was the driving force behind the living history Character Walk held annually on Memorial Day. She accomplished the above and more as an active member of the Historic Preservation Commission of Carroll, the Carroll County Historical Society, and on her own volition and dime.

Vicki had a commitment to documenting stories that might otherwise have been forgotten. She authored the reoccurring column “Remember When” published regularly in the Daily Times Herald. In 2023, the Chamber of Commerce recognized Vicki with a Public Service Award “for exemplary service and dedication our community.” Her legacy will live on for generations through her meticulous preservation of Carroll’s history for the benefit of all.

She was a member St. John II Parish and Women’s Guild and a former member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and the Holy Spirit Liturgy Committee. Throughout her life, Vicki donated many gallons of blood to the Red Cross.

Vicki was a favorite aunt to her many nieces and nephews, taking them on adventures to museums in Chicago, to major league baseball games, and creating memorable holidays. She never missed acknowledging a birthday or holiday and published a treasured yearly calendar noting hundreds of family events such as wedding anniversaries, deaths, and birthdays. Her nieces and nephews, brothers and sister, friends and neighbors, and students and colleagues knew her as kindhearted, generous, independent, faithful, compassionate, legacy oriented, and a dedicated educator.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, traveling, reading, antiquing, researching, and writing about history, flower gardening, and caring for her cats Lucy and Cleo.

Preceding her in death are her parents and her brother Tom.

She is survived by her sister Julie (Tom) Woodruff of Red Wing, MN; and brother Gerard (Martha) Gach of Lyman, ME; nieces and nephews Peter Woodruff (Sarah Modi) of Madison, WI; Charles Woodruff (Emma Cory) of St. Paul, MN; Eva (Josh) Murphy of Newtown, CT; Margaret Gach of San Diego, CA; Amy (Bill) Gerhardt of Ankeny, IA; Diana (Chad) Jeffrey of Robins, IA; Jim (Lora) Gach of Cave City, AK; Doug (Christa) Gach of Waukee, IA; Michelle (Kevin) Kroeger of Lidderdale, IA; Scott (Jen) Gach of Des Moines, IA; and Joe (Andrea) Gach of Carroll; 20 great nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, Vicki requests memorial donations to your local Animal Rescue League, the Cancer Society, or Easter Seals.

Vicki asks for clothing in lighter tones rather than black at her memorial services.