Estrelia Gascon Lohmeier

Estrelia Gutierrez Gascon was born on May 14, 1939 in Kahuku Hospital. She spent her first few years on the Kahuku Sugar Plantation with her mother and father who had immigrated from the Phillipines. She later lived in Kakaako, Kalihi, Halawa Veteran's Housing and Halawa Heights where her father bought a home. She attended Puuhale School, Aiea Elementary and Intermediate where she was class president of one of her classes. She represented Aiea Intermediate in the state spelling bee and received numerous adwards including national recognition for her scholastic achievements. She then attended Punahou School and graduated in 1957.

During the summer of 1957 she met her future husband. She was sitting in her car with a friend in front of "Don the Beachcomber's" in Waikiki when three marines approached the car. Her future husband, Joe Lohmeier, persuaded Estrel (after much persuasion) to meet him at the base chapel at Camp Smith where he was stationed. They saw a lot of each other over the next few months before she was finally persuaded to introduce him to her parents.

She started college at the University of Hawaii that fall. Joe and Estrel fell in love, but Joe's two year tour of duty in Hawaii ended in 1959 and he was rotated back to Camp Pendleton. They kept in close contact over the three years.

Upon Estrel's graduation from college, she traveled to California where she met up with Joe and they drove to Lincoln, Nebraska where she was introduced to his relatives. She returned to Hawaii and in February of 1962 Joe returned to Hawaii. On June 23, 1962 they were married.

On April 5, 1963 Joseph Jr. was born followed by Bridget on August 22, 1964, and on January 22, 1969 Gavin was born.

In between babies, Estrel taught for twelve years in various public schools. She applied for and received a teaching position at Punahou School where she taught second grade in the same classroom for the next thirty-four years.

She had always wanted to be a teacher and her great passion for teaching was felt by all who knew her. She passed on her talents and her love of nature, music and arts to her many students and to her own children as well. Joe Jr. plays guitar and cello, Bridget became a teacher and taught math for a number of years, but is now teaching ballet. Gavin always enjoyed working out in the gym and now works at Kaiser Hospital in the physical therapy department.

Estrel enjoyed being a grandmother to Shane and Matthew. She doted on them, giving them piano lessons, buying them musical instruments, and taking them on outings to the Bishop Museum, Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, and the Honolulu Museum of Art just to name a few. She often traveled to the Big Island and Kaua'i to visit her grandsons.

A few years before retiring, Estrelia achieved one of her goals -- a master's degree in elemetary education. Estrel enjoyed her retirement years and frequently returned to the Punahou campus to visit friends and sometimes to substitute teach. During her retirement, she also helped teach students at Liholiho elementary school the tinkling, the Filipino bamboo dance.

On June 23, 2012 Estrel and Joe celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a few family members. She had developed heart problems and on August 12th she was admitted to the emergency unit at Kaiser Hospital and a few days later she was transfered to the intensive care unit. With family members holding her hands she passed away on September 21, 2012.