Memorial

L. Racheal Gangestad Amelung Davis, 87, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha, Iowa. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 1st, 2024, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel Stateroom. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, August 2nd, 2024, at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories.  Burial to follow at Cedar Memorial Cemetery.

Racheal was born August 24, 1936, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the daughter of Leon and Ruth (Dawes) Gangestad.  She was baptized, confirmed, and married in St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode, Iowa, and graduated from Bode Consolidated Schools with honors.  Racheal then graduated with an English degree from Wartburg College in 1959 and spent 14 years teaching Junior High Language Arts in Mason City and Iowa City, Iowa. She then earned her Master of Arts in Library Science from the University of Iowa, and served as a librarian at Iowa City Schools, Kirkwood Community College, and Mount Mercy University.   Although Racheal was not a parent herself, she played an important part as mentor, educator, and advocate in many children's lives.

Racheal and Seth Amelung were united in marriage on June 21, 1964. After the loss of Seth, Racheal married Norman Davis in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on April 14, 1973. Racheal and Norman made Cedar Rapids their home but had a passion for exploring the world beyond. Together, they traveled to over 30 countries on four continents. Racheal enjoyed art, music, travel, learning experiences, and family history; she was her family's historian, archivist, and genealogist. Joining with her mother and cousin, Racheal created the Descendants of William Who Rode organization. The purpose the organization is the identification and acknowledgment, of family descendants of Revolutionary War hero William Dawes (Racheal's 4th great-grandfather). 

Racheal was a member of the daughters of the American Revolution (Ashley Chapter), First Lutheran Church of Cedar Rapids, Vesterheim, The National Norwegian-American Museum, The National Czech and Slovak Museum Writers Guild, Ada Van Vechten Society of Cedar Rapids, and former member of Delta Kappa Gamma. 

In life and death, she followed the motto found on her Dawe's family crest, "Look towards the sunlight and the shadows fall behind you".

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Catherine McAuley Center: 1220 5th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403.