Carol Ellen Ninow Gostele

In Loving (laughing) Memory of Carol Ellen Ninow Gostele

June 5, 1949 – March 7, 2026

Ahoy Matey! It took many years for either of her kids to realize that your mother greeting you like a sailor on a daily basis is not normal. But then again, there were many things not normal about Carol (Ninow) Gostele.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and June Ninow. Her laughter lives on through her brother Douglas Ninow and his partner Michael Keach of Tampa, Florida, her son Jefferson (Meghan), grandkids Isla, Owen, and Ezra Gostele of Chandler, Arizona, and her daughter Kallie (Adam) Fields of San Tan Valley, Arizona.

From her church-pew-shaking laugh that would embarrass her kids, to her love for dogs (Tigger, Dylan, Duncan, Jill, Kipp, Harry, Stevie), a good laugh and positive outlook stayed with her until the end.

She spent her life relishing the time she had with her children and grandchildren, reading, crosstitching, playing games, doing puzzles, going on long lunches (sometimes 4+ hours) with friends to Dublin Bay, The Cafe, Culver's, Wallaby’s, Firehouse Subs, and, definitely not to forget, Jimmy John’s, but most of all laughing. Her giggle “fits” would frequently evolve from a funny event, then escalate to the point of a cheek-pain-no-one-knows-why-were-still-laughing extreme with her daughter and daughter-in-law.

Born in Moline, Illinois, Carol’s journey took her through Kirkwood, Missouri, where she graduated from high school, and eventually to the University of Missouri for her early college years. Her path then led her to Drake University in Des Moines, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and met her former husband.

While Carol spent several years in Ames, Iowa, she truly made her home in Story City, Iowa. For the majority of her professional life, she was a cornerstone of the Iowa State University College of Engineering, where her dedication left a lasting impact on colleagues and students alike. In recent years, Carol relocated to Maricopa, Arizona, to fulfill her favorite role: being a grandmother. Nothing brought her more pride or joy than being "Mom" and "Gram."

Through years of picnics at the North Park in Story City, soccer games all over central Iowa, Friday night football games, Roland-Story theater, band, and choir, church at St. Johns in Ames (only after dragging her growing children out of bed), summer vacations across the country (to which her hour of allocated radio time meant turning it off so she could read), and frequent holidays to Chilton, Wisconsin where her mother and father grew up, her life was full of things to do. With a Diet Coke (or, in later years, a Coke Zero) in her hand and a goal of an ice cream reward after making it through the day, she took each day as it came, always with a smile.

Carol was the best at both worlds. She inspired those around her to look on the brighter side of things, while also being very empathetic. She approached every new face with a blank slate, giving people the benefit of the doubt. She would drop everything if she could help someone (including performing CPR on Hole 3 of a golf course while in Wisconsin). She would cradle those who needed comfort and poke fun at the irony of life if a lighthearted approach was more appropriate.

Carol’s life was a testament to the things that matter most: education, a good game, a winning home team, and, most importantly, the fierce love of a mother. She always knew what to say, she always listened, and she will always be with those who loved her, only now in a different way.

A casual social hour in memory of Carol will be held in the Speer Room at Reiman Gardens (1407 University Blvd, Ames, Iowa 50011) on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 4:00-7:00 pm. Come anytime and stay as long as you like. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. To best honor her life and spirit, attendees are encouraged to wear either navy blue, ISU, Cubs, or Green Bay Packers attire, and Birkenstocks if that’s your thing.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Bertha Bartlett Public Library in Story City, Iowa, to inspire future readers to realize their new or existing love for books.