Gayle Lankow

Gayle Lankow, of Dawson, died Friday, November 15, 2024 at Astera Health in Wadena at the age of 71.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 1:30 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson with Pastor Kendall Stelter officiating.  Following the prayer gathering of family and friends will take place at the Hill Top Bar & Event Center. 

Gayle Robert Lankow was born May 19, 1953 in Fergus Falls, MN the son of Francis and Virginia (Martinson) Lankow. He graduated from Rothsay High School in 1971 as an all star football athlete. Following high school he attended Minnesota State Community College in Fergus Falls. As someone who always had an eye for building great things, Gayle joined the construction industry where he traveled around to many states working as a superintendent of job sites. On every project he made a point to get to know the people he was working with and share the knowledge and stories he had. Gayle was united in marriage to the love of his life Greta on March 19, 2004 in Brookings, SD. They put down roots in Dawson and enjoyed everything that small town life had to offer. When Gayle wasn’t working he enjoyed spending his time with family and friends at the lake and anyplace he could hunt. He always had a good story to tell and some witty remarks that left those around him crying with laughter. 

He is survived by his wife, Greta; four children: Casey (Stephan) Lankow of Seattle, Ashley (Troy Bruflat) Raveling of Clarkfield, Andrew Oswald of Wyoming, MN, and Austin (Madeline Stenglein) Oswald of Richfield; five grandchildren: Carson, Kinsley, Knox, Torren, and Auriel; his mother, Virginia Lankow of Breckenridge; two brothers: Gary (Becky) Lankow and Glenn (Tammy) Lankow; sister, Jean (Dan) Smith; and several nieces and nephews that he cared deeply about. 

Preceding him in death were his father, Francis and a brother, Greg Lankow.