Irving J. "Bill" Gale

1926 - 2014

Gale, Irving J. "Bill" 87, of New Berlin, formerly of Chippewa Falls, died August 17, 2014. He was born September 1, 1926. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy during WWII from March 1944 - May, 1946 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 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. He is survived by 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. Services and burial will be in Chippewa Falls.