Gayle Thomas Zajicek, age 92 of Sandstone MN, died on Friday, October 11, 2024 at Sandstone Golden Horizons.

Gayle was born on July 28, 1932 in Minneapolis, MN, the son of John A. and Gladys (Tomlinson) Zajicek. Gayle attended Dell Grove Township School for eight years and graduated from Sandstone, MN High School in 1950.

Gayle enlisted in the U. S. Army Security Agency in 1951 serving for three years with 18 months service in Germany. Before enlisting and after discharge he served several seasons in the Merchant Marines on the Great Lakes. He married Norma Jean Lynn in 1960 in Las Vegas, NV and was later married to Barbara Jean Overton in 2000 in Honolulu, HI.

Gayle enrolled at the Northrop Institute of Technology, Englewood, CA, in January 1956 graduating in 1960 as an Aeronautical Engineer. He worked for several aerospace companies, working on several military aircraft in the Los Angles, CA area and the Apollo Moon Project both in the LA area and at Launch Operations at the Kennedy Launch Center, FL. In 1973 he went to work for the U. S. Army Defense Ammunition Center and School (USADACS) at the Savanna Army Depot, IL retiring in 1993. Gayle was a member and Past Commander of the Savanna, IL American Legion Post 148, member Savanna VFW Post 2223, Past Master and Treasurer of the Mississippi Masonic Lodge 385, Freeport, IL Consistory, Tebala Shrine of Rockford IL, member and Past President, Past Vice President, Past Secretary and Treasure of the National Association of Retired Government Employees (NARFE). He enjoyed being "Grandpa Z" to his grandchildren, Nicky, Maddy, Joey and Katie.

Survivors include his sister, Mary L. Zajicek of Sandstone, MN; stepdaughter, Amy (Walter) Kreiling of Durham, NC; stepdaughter, Laura (Craig) Little of Landsdale, PA; four grandchildren; nieces and nephews, Judy (Gene) Secord of Princeton, MN, Rose (Donald) Reiman of Alamo, TX, Vicki Zajicek of Sandstone, MN, Zanetta (Kenneth) Hanson of Coon Rapids, MN, Laura (Larry) Schwambeck of Anoka, MN, Joan Salsedo of Tracy, CA, James Zajicek of Glendale, AZ, Jonathan Zajicek of Paris, TN, as well as other relatives and friends.

Gayle was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Jean Overton in 2016, father, John, in 1968, his mother, Gladys, in 1987, three brothers, John Lemuel in 1999, James Allen in 1991, Robert Lee in 1945, one sister, Betty Jean in 1926, nephews, Jack Zajicek in 2018 and Ralph Zajicek in 1976.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, October 18, 2024 at Dell Grove Emmanuel Lutheran Church, with Pastor Tim Ehling officiating and organist, Nancy Pugh. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024 from 5 until 7 P.M. at Methven Funeral Home in Sandstone with a Masonic Memorial taking place at 6:30 P.M. Visitation will continue on Friday at the church one hour prior to the service. Military Honors are being provided by the Hinckley Honor Guard. The burial will be at the Dell Grove Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.

Arrangements by Methven Funeral and Cremation Service of Sandstone, MN.