Gayle J. Steele

1936 - 2019

Gayle J. (Stolley) Steele, of Roseville, CA, age 82, passed away on January 13, 2019 as the sun set. Gayle, the oldest of three children, was born July 15, 1936 in Murdo, SD to Maynard and Mary Stolley. She was raised on a farm in Vivian and graduated from Vivian High School before attending St. Joseph School of Nursing in Sioux City, IA. Gayle joined the US Air Force in 1959. She served as a flight nurse, attaining the rank of Captain. She met the love of her life, Lt. Col. John (Jack) Steele (Ret.), while stationed at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka. They married June 19, 1965. Gayle and Jack had two daughters and a son. Gayle's love of travel and adventure were well matched to Jack's career in the Air Force. She never turned down an opportunity to travel the world. Gayle returned to school and earned a B.S. in Nursing at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, TX in 1976. After the family moved to Sacramento, she obtained a school nursing credential from CSU, Sacramento and began a 28-year school nursing career for the Sacramento City, San Juan Unified and El Dorado Union school districts. She cared deeply about the emotional needs of her students and obtained a Master's in School Counseling from the University of LaVerne in 1989. An athlete all her life, Gayle loved to run, ski and hike. She played in an over 60 women's soccer league and took up road cycling in her 70's. She could be counted on to cheer the loudest at her grandsons' baseball, soccer, lacrosse and volleyball games. Gayle and Jack also traveled across the US in their beloved motor home which allowed her to soak in the scenery and catch up on her reading. The arrival of her grandsons brought great joy to her and she loved spending time with each of them.
Gayle is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Jack Steele; her three children, Jeanine (Karl) Tede and grandsons Colin and Matthew of Larkspur, CA; Michelle (Tim) Shestek and grandson Andrew of Folsom, CA; and John Steele Jr. of San Francisco, CA; brothers Pete (Mary) Stolley of Northfield, MN and Richard (Eileen) Stolley of Kadoka, SD. A funeral mass will be held February 11, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Clare's Catholic Church, 1950 Junction Blvd., Roseville, CA 95747. The internment will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery on February 12 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.