Macke passes after cancer battle

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
On Oct. 29, the Weston County community lost more than just the Weston County Clerk of District Court when Gidget Macke passed away at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., after a battle with throat and neck cancer. 
Macke was not only the Clerk of District Court for the past five years, but also the chairman of the Weston County Children’s Center board, serving on the board for 21 years. Macke was also an active member of the Weston County Republican Party for years.  
A Newcastle High School class of 1984 graduate, Macke lived her life after school in Newcastle working as a dispatcher for the Newcastle Police Department and as a legal secretary for Hansen and Peck Law Office. Macke began her career at the Weston County Courthouse in 2002 as a deputy clerk before being elected to the clerk position in 2014. 
“She was an amazing co-worker and friend. I worked with Gidget for over 15 years and there was definitely no one like her,” Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock said. “We all have a very special bond in the courthouse and are all family. The loss of Gidget will leave a void that will take a long time for us all to get over, but we are very fortunate that we have one another to lean on at this difficult time.” 
Deputy County Clerk Tina Cote, in an interview last month prior to a benefit that was held for Macke, said her co-worker was a fantastic, wonderful person that was so kind-hearted. She said she was always amazed by Macke’s willingness to jump in and help to lessen the burden on her friends and coworkers. “We have always looked to her for guidance in whatever we do. She is an excellent employer and in that aspect not having her has been rough,” Cote said in October. 
The Weston County Children’s Center is also feeling the loss of Macke, and Francie Gregory said that the shoes worn by Macke will be hard to fill. 
“She had an immense amount of knowledge and has been with us through lots of transitions and hardships with money,” Gregory said. “She left some big shoes to fill.” 
She explained that money was always the biggest issue for the center, and the board was always involved in helping with those issues, especially Macke. 
“She was always involved and always there, through all the ups and downs,” Gregory said. “It will be hard to replace her, that is for sure.” 
Macke left behind her husband, Andy, and two daughters, Kaitlin and Brooklin. The family has openly expressed that they have been overwhelmed by the amount of support they have received throughout the community before and after Macke’s passing. 
A wake for Macke has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. at the Weston County Senior Services center. Her funeral will take place the following day, Friday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. A lunch at the Weston County Senior Center will follow (see full obituary on page 4).