Dates
Anne Michelle Bahlman Gouak, our beloved wife, daughter, sister, and friend, passed away gently in her sleep at her home in Oceanside, California on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.
Anne was born May 10, 1983 in San Angelo, Texas to Danny and Kande Izzard Bahlman. She grew up in San Angelo, attending Goliad and Bowie Elementary schools, Glenn Junior High and graduating from San Angelo Central High School in 2001. She loved dancing as a member of the CHS Tex-Anns and singing soprano in the Varsity and Show choirs. She was also an active member of Johnson Street Church of Christ and the youth group, participating in Huddle, Camp Victory and Mexico Mission trips.
A member of Delta Gamma Sorority, Anne graduated from Texas Tech University in August 2005 with dual degrees in International Business and Spanish. While at Tech, Anne studied abroad in Seville, Spain and served an Internship at the American Embassy in Santiago, Chile where she met Stephen Michael Gouak, a handsome Marine who took great pleasure in teasing her about the big white cuffs on her shirt! Following graduation from Tech, Anne used her Spanish language skills as an interpreter for the JSY Mission effort in Mexico and while employed with The Retirement Group of Merrill Lynch in Hopewell, New Jersey. She later worked for Smith-Barney in Ranch Santa Fe, CA and Readylink Healthcare in Desert Palm Springs, CA.
On July 26, 2008, Anne married the love of her life, Stephen Michael Gouak. She was an active Marine Corps wife who loved hiking, off-roading, snowboarding, and skiing with Steve and their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Tucker. Anne loved to travel and experience different cultures. She made many special memories running along the Washington River in New Jersey, exploring Philadelphia and New York City with friends and family, climbing Mount Fuji in Japan, and hiking and skiing in Big Bear, California. She was a member of the Calvary Chapel in Yucca Valley, California and enjoyed worshiping there with her church family.
Anne's sense of community and service continued through involvement in women's ministry and couples ministry at church, participation in various EOD and Wounded Warrior projects, and ministering to the families of friends that had lost loved ones, especially members of her Marine Corps family. She recently created a stronger sense of community and support among the wives and families of those that were deployed with Steve by creating a networking group and was looking forward to beginning volunteer work at the hospital at Camp Pendleton.
Anne is survived by her husband, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC, Steve Gouak of Oceanside, CA, and her faithful and constant companion, Tucker; parents Danny and Kande Izzard Bahlman, sister Dr. Stephanie Gayle Bahlman, D.C.; brother and sister-in-law Blake and Jennifer Sprague Bahlman of Waco, TX; maternal grandmother June Izzard, and paternal grandparents Leon and Mary Ann Bahlman. Other surviving family members include Dr. Rudy and Janice Izzard and Jeffri Izzard Long of San Angelo, TX; Ben and Jill Izzard Sheppard of Austin, TX, Kenny and Kathryn Miller Bahlman of San Angelo, TX, Weston and Vicki Bahlman Pyburn of Sweetwater, TX, Donnie and Shari Bahlman Riley of Odessa, TX, Terry and Robin Riley Bahlman of San Angelo, TX, in-laws David and Mary Ann Gouak of Bellefonte, PA, Tom and Sandy Gouak Sheafer of Belleville, PA, David and Amy Gouak of Perry Hall, MD, and Jon Gouak and fiancé Sharon Jones of Duncannon, PA, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Anne was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Wm. L. (Dub) Izzard.
A Celebration of Life Ceremony was held with Anne's Marine Corps family and friends at Calvary Chapel Living Hope in Oceanside, CA on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.
Anne's life will be celebrated in San Angelo, Texas at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 12 in the Worship Center of Johnson Street Church of Christ, 2200 Johnson Street under the direction of Youth Minister Kevin Huddleston. Visitation with friends and family will be held immediately after the service in the JSCC Family Center. Burial will follow at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo. Arrangements are through Johnson's Funeral Home, San Angelo, TX.
The overwhelming outpouring of support, love and prayers from friends and family is reflective of the impact Anne had on the lives of so many. A special word of thanks goes out to Brad and Cami Hussey of Oceanside, CA for their diligent care and attention to detail. Although Anne will be so greatly missed, we celebrate her life in joyful expectation of when we will share our heavenly home together.
As a way to honor and remember Anne, the family respectfully asks that memorials be made to Johnson Street Youth Group or Rust Street Ministries in lieu of flowers. Donations may be mailed to Johnson Street Church of Christ, 2200 Johnson Street, San Angelo, TX 76904 or online athttps://www.egive-usa.com/makeagiftnow/1/
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5: 14-16