Funeral services for Erma Mary Heine Gaas, 98, were held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell.
She was born on March 5, 1927, in Somerville, to William B. Heine and Lillie Schoppe Heine.
Erma attended Birch School and worked with her family mercantile and cotton gin business in her early years.
She was married to Richard Eddie Gaas on June 28, 1947.
She had two children. Possessing the same pioneer spirit as her parents, Erma and her husband Richard opened their business, Gaas Refrigeration in 1962. After selling the business to their son in 1974, she continued to work with her son until her retirement in February 2006.
Erma loved to cook and always had lunch and dessert for anyone who stopped by the house.
She worked in her garden and mowed her yard well into her mid 90s.
She died on Sept. 28, 2025.
She is survived by one son and his wife; two grandsons and their wives; four great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; one great-great-granddaughter; one great-great-grandson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home. They invite you to visit their website at www.stricklandfuneralhomes. com and sign the online register book.