VALLEY CITY – Valley City developer and former chair of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL, George Gaukler, died Tuesday. Gaukler, 88, had served as chair of the Dem-NPL from 1980-1994.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 10 at the Center for the Arts on the Valley City State University campus.

“He was also the most effective state chairman the Democratic Party has ever had — leading our state to Democratic domination for the period of time he was our leader,” said former U.S. Congressman Earl Pomeroy. “I tried to follow his golden counsel and always wanted him to be proud of our efforts because he had worked so hard to get us elected in the first place.”

“George was a visionary and had a passion for improving the quality of life for all,” said Larry Robinson, former state senator and recently retired as executive director of the Valley City State University Foundation. “George and his late wife Audrey were pillars in our community, leading and supporting numerous community improvements. George had a big heart and helped many over the course of his life. He was driven and he was a born leader.”