Gustav “Junior” Gale Sievert, age 96, of Gladstone, MO, passed peacefully at home into the loving arms of his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ on January 28, 2025. He was born in Iowa Falls in Hardin County, Iowa on July 30, 1928.
Gustav, the youngest of nine children was born to Gustav Henry and Ada Christine (Bahr) Sievert. His family farmed land during his childhood. Known as Gale from his youth, he graduated from Jefferson City High School in Jefferson City, MO, at the age of sixteen, on May 24, 1945.
Gale met his love of his life, Lora Bernice Ballou, on a blind date set up his sister, Jane. They married on August 14, 1954, at St. Matthew’s Evangelical and Reformed Church of Riverside in Platte County, MO. They began their married life the same day Gale was drafted into the army. After boot camp, they were stationed in England where they created cherished memories. Gale served honorably as a Specialist 3rd Class AUS for two years during the Korean War. He has always been very humble about his service in the Army and became a dedicated supporter of Veterans in his later years.
Returning to the states, Gale and Bernice made their home in Gladstone, MO, where he began a lifelong career with the United States Postal Service. He was a mail sorter for many of those years – long before mail became automated. In order to do this, he memorized all the area zip codes and addresses and often competed for the fastest sorted mail. Gale and his wife raised three sons and one daughter together.
Throughout his life, Gale enjoyed trapping, fishing, and hunting. He loved farming and, even though he lived in the city, maintained two large gardens, one at his home and another on a friend’s property. An avid gardener, he meticulously tracked his plantings and harvests, providing his family with countless farm-to-table meals long before the trend in restaurants! Many dinners featured food from his gardens, fishing, and hunting trips.
Providing for his family was paramount to Gale. After long hours at the post office, he also mowed lawns as a side business. He enjoyed finding bargains through couponing and getting the best deal at the grocery store. Even after his children were grown and had their own families, the last gift of Christmas was always a curated box of groceries, a tangible expression of his love. He was always willing to help in any way he could and faithfully prayed for his family each night.
Gale retired at 62 and continued gardening. He also became an avid contest entrant, winning numerous t-shirts, mugs, memorabilia, and even a tropical cruise for Bernice. When contests moved online, he discovered a new passion for scratch-off lottery tickets. Weekly Mocha Frappes and lottery tickets remained a cherished routine until the end.
Gale leaves behind his sons, Mark Alan and Stephen Warren and daughter-in-law Kelly; his daughter, Lisa Gayle and son-in-law, Mark (Bo) Bozarth. He also leaves eight beloved grandchildren, Marissa, Brooke, Joshua, Matthew (Liz), Nathaniel (Monica), Delaney, Chandler (Auche), and Adam (Karley); as well as eight great-grandchildren, Emma, Hannah, Joel, Mackenzie, Zoey, Eliza, Ben, and Damien; and his only surviving sibling, Ruth Laney.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice; his eldest son, David Gustav; his parents, Gustav, and Ada Sievert; his brothers, Arnold, Zolen, David, and Vernon; and his sisters, Pauline Meuller, Vera Crosser, and Jane Belk-Young. He was also preceded in death by his parent-in-laws, Raymond and Velva Ballou, his brothers-in-law Richard and Terry, and sister-in-law Ila Mattox.
Gale will be buried alongside his wife in a private graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help Veterans of Foreign War (vfw.org) and the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org).
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