Gabrielle D. Trunkhill

Gabrielle D. Trunkhill, 46, of Titonka, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City. 

A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday, June 30, 2025, at Good Hope Lutheran Church, 323 Dieckman St., Titonka. Following the visitation, she will be cremated. A private family burial will be held at a later date in Portland Cemetery near Burt. Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt is in charge of arrangements.

Gabrielle Dawne Trunkhill, the daughter of James and Suzanne (Christiansen) Brighton, was born on March 29, 1979, in Britt, Iowa. She grew up in Titonka and graduated from Forest City High School in 1997. As a young girl, she became enamored with Girl Scouts, always looking forward to her adventures at summer camp. During high school, she continued to be actively involved and dedicated herself to being a camp counselor at Camp Tanglefoot in Clear Lake. Gabrielle kept her school years just as busy and actively participated in band, chorus, Forest City T.V. Crew, weightlifting, and the Speech Club. In June 1997, she welcomed her first child, Alex. On August 12, 2000, Gabrielle married William Trunkhill at Good Hope Lutheran Church in Titonka, and together they welcomed four children: Christopher, Joseph, Benjamin, and Madelyn. For Gabrielle, her children were the absolute center of her world. She treasured every single moment they spent together. Whether it was the thrill of kayaking, camping, and frequent trips to the playground; or the peacefulness of teaching, reading, and gardening with them, she cherished every moment she spent with her family. Even the moments when the family came together to work, from caring for lawns across town, spending long hours during harvest, and of course, cleaning, were precious to her. Titonka was her family's home and Gabrielle always found a way to help take care of her community. She led the installation of a new playground for Gruis Shelter House Park, volunteered each election as a Poll Worker, fundraised for the city pool, and served on the Titonka Library Board, the Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka School Board, and the Titonka City Council. Gabrielle’s nurturing spirit shined brightly during her years running a daycare in town and throughout her employment with 3M in Forest City, Snap-On in Algona, the Titonka Care Center, and most recently in her role at ACCURA Healthcare in Bancroft. 

Gabrielle is survived by her husband, William of Titonka; her five children, Alex Trunkhill of Cedar Falls, Christopher, Joseph, Benjamin, and Madelyn Trunkhill of Titonka; her mother, Suzanne Brighton of Titonka; four siblings, Lisa Brighton (Roger Lyons) of Forest City, Nathaniel Brighton of Sioux Falls, SD, Matthew (Sara) Brighton of Ogden, IA, and Jamie (Shawn) Bishop of Niceville, FL; and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her father, James Brighton; parents-in-law, Richard and Lana Trunkhill; brother-in-law, Tony Trunkhill; and nephew, Carter Trunkhill.