Sally May Gakenheimer passed away Sunday, August 29, 2021 after living with Alzheimer’s for several years.
Sally was born in 1929 and spent her childhood in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Summers were spent with her grandparents on Lake Mills where she learned one of her life-long passions, sewing, from her grandmother. Sewing and needlework became a big part of her life. Sally enjoyed making many items for all members of her family including her six grandchildren.
Sally graduated from the University of Wisconsin and Northwestern University. She taught third grade in Wisconsin before moving west with other adventurous young women. While working in Denver, she enjoyed skiing and outdoor life, although said she was better at apres skiing.
After a couple of years in Denver, Sally and her roommates decided to move further west to San Francisco. She was thrilled to see the University of Wisconsin play in two Rose Bowls. Throughout her life, Sally loved watching football, tennis, and especially college basketball. She later became a life-long fan of Cavalier basketball when both of her children attended the University of Virginia.
Sally met the love of her life, Walter Gakenheimer, in 1961 while working for Webster Advertising in Pasadena. She was asked to model for her client Stuart Pharmaceuticals where Walter worked. The print advertisement for Mylanta (Sally laying in a hospital bed grimacing with pretend abdominal pain) captures the day that Walter and Sally met. After marrying on April 20, 1963, Sally and Walter enjoyed driving throughout Europe during their honeymoon in a red MGB which they shipped back to the states. After settling in Wilmington, Delaware, son Scott was born in 1964, and daughter Susan was born in 1966. Sally and Walter dedicated themselves to their children and years later to their six grandchildren. They avidly traveled the world together, often including Scott and Susan and their grandchildren.
In addition to seeing the world, Sally loved being with people. She enjoyed hosting elaborate dinner parties for her many friends, playing cards with the bridge group, going on field trips with her art group, and partying with a group of friends called The Occiden-tals. Sally had a wonderful sense of humor and lived life fully. She avidly attended theater productions, concerts, and the opera. Sally’s calendar was packed with social and cultural events.
Sally was a member of American Association of University Women, Greenville Country Club, University Whist Club, the Opportunity Center, and the Music School of Delaware. She volunteered at Winterthur Museum, Delaware Art Museum, and the Christiana Ju-nior Board. She also served on the Board of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware.
Walter passed away suddenly from a stroke in 2001. Sally moved in 2007 into a cottage in Cokesbury Village in Hockessin, Delaware. She described her new life as like being back in college. Sally’s fun outgoing demeanor and optimistic outlook never diminished. She lived in a dementia unit in Cokesbury for the past couple of years which at times she thought was a cruise. Nurses always described Sally as very friendly and pleasant.
In addition to their children, Scott and spouse Amy (of Charlotte, NC) and Susan and spouse Mark (of Earleville, MD), Sally and Walter were blessed with six grandchildren, Mason Lester of Washington, DC; Samantha Lester of Budapest, Hungary; Maxwell Lester of Denver, CO; Alex Gakenheimer of New York City, NY; Alison Gakenheimer of Denver, CO; and Christine Gakenheimer of Athens, GA.
The family would like to thank the Cokesbury Village Nursing and Health Care staff and Compassionate Care Hospice for their love, kindness, and compassionate care of Sally.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Alzheimer’s Association.
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