Irving Gale

VISITATION

4-7 p.m., Friday, August 22 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel and from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Saturday at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 117 Allen St., Chippewa Falls.

SERVICE

10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 23 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 117 Allen St., Chippewa Falls.

Irving J. "Bill" Gale, 87, of New Berlin, formerly of Chippewa Falls, died Sunday, August 17, 2014 in New Berlin.

He was born September 1, 1926 in Chippewa Falls to Marie (White) and Ermond Roy Gale Sr. He graduated from McDonnell High School in Chippewa Falls. His parents built the Four Corners Restaurant in Chippewa Falls and owned and operated the establishment until 1952.

Bill served in the U.S. Navy during WWII from March 1944 until his honorable discharge in May, 1946. He served on the USS Little DD 803, which he was aboard when it was sunk by Japanese kamikazes off the coast of Okinawa on May 3, 1945. He was sent home on survivors leave and later was stationed in Japan after the war ended.

On April 19, 1947 he married Virginia R. "Gini" Rushman at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Chippewa Falls. They resided in Chippewa Falls and St. Paul, MN, until moving to West Allis in 1955. In 1975, they built a new home in New Berlin where he has since resided. Bill worked as a federal postal worker/employee from 1944 until his retirement in 1989.

Bill enjoyed deer hunting, and has been at deer camp during every Thanksgiving since 1936.

He is survived by a daughter, Jodean "Jodi" (John) Bilansky of Plano, TX; son, Richard "Rick" (Karin) Gale of West Allis; daughter-in-law, Geri Ann "Dolly" Gale of Medford; grandchildren, Shane (Jamie) Gale of Waukesha, Anne Marie Gale of West Allis, Brent John Bilansky of Plano, Sara Francis (Robert) Huston of New York and Nic Gale of Medford; great-grandson, Quentin Irving Gale of Waukesha.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia "Gini" on October 27, 2007; his son, Randolph "Randy" Gale on August 27, 2013; siblings, Ermond Roy Gale Jr., Roger Gale.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 23 at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Chippewa Falls with Rev. Msgr. Mark Pierce celebrating the Mass. Entombment with military honors presented by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council will be in Hope Mausoleum, Chippewa Falls.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Friday, August 22 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls and one hour prior the service Saturday at the church. A prayer vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m., Friday evening at the funeral chapel.

Memorials may be designated to the Chippewa Falls VFW Post 1038.

AFTERSERVICE:

A funeral service for Irving J. "Bill" Gale, 87, of New Berlin, formerly of Chippewa Falls was held on Saturday, August 23 at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Chippewa Falls.

The Rev. Msgr. Mark Pierce celebrated the Mass and music was provided by Judy Brist.

Scripture was read by daughter, Jodi Bilansky and niece, Terry Coffin.; giftbearers were son, Rick Gale and son-in-law, John Bilansky.

Entombment with military honors presented by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council took place at Hope Mausoleum in Chippewa Falls. Tom Eder Jr. bugled "Taps." Those serving as casket bearers were: Nic and Shane Gale, Sara and Rob Huston, Brent Bilansky and Nick Briden.

A prayer vigil led by Msgr. Mark Pierce was held Friday evening, during the visitation at the funeral chapel.