Gayle Gill

She attended first grade through senior year at the town’s only school, located across the street from her family home. As a young girl, Gayle often accompanied her mother to Larson Bros. general store in Rock. She also looked forward to spending time at her father’s business in Negaunee, Ramseth Furniture. In high school, Gayle played half-court basketball and was a senior class officer. She graduated with RHS Class of 1953. Upon graduation, Gayle left home to attend Badger Business School in Green Bay. After obtaining her secretarial certificate, Gayle and long-time friend, Joanne Tardiff of Gladstone, secured work in Chicago, and shared a garden apartment in the big city.

In 1958, Gayle returned to Rock for a short visit, and to cheer on her youngest brother Curtis, an RHS senior at the time, during his final varsity basketball game. As the story goes, Gayle’s other brother Roger introduced her to Rock High School’s new coach and shop teacher, who hailed from Pulaski, Wisconsin. His name was Roman Gill, and he became the love of her life.

Gayle and Roman Gill were married in August 1959 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins, Michigan. She and Roman honeymooned at Niagara Falls and made their first home in Rock where Roman continued teaching and coaching. Many years later, Gayle and Roman returned to St. Joseph’s to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a Mass and luncheon. Two children and a move to Escanaba followed, where Roman taught until retirement in 1990 and where they resided until this past Fall.

After Roman retired from teaching, they spent most winters as snowbirds in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Their door was always open to family members and friends. On other trips throughout the United States, Gayle and Roman stopped to tour state capitols until they accomplished their goal of visiting all fifty. They were also guests on a once-in-a-lifetime trip overseas for Korean War combat veterans and spouses, hosted by the president of South Korea. They toured parts of Europe as well. Gayle was proud of her Norwegian heritage, and she felt blessed to see the “old country” Ramseth farm in Norway. The highlight of Gayle’s many travels was attending Mass at the Vatican in Rome. Aside from traveling, in 1970 Gayle and Roman purchased a lot on the shore of Cook Lake, Trenary, where they built an A-frame cabin and entertained nonstop during the summers.

Gayle also worked and volunteered in many capacities her entire life. She was recognized as a hostess at Big Boy downtown Escanaba, and as a certified poll worker for area-wide elections. Gayle became well known at St. Francis Hospital as an auxiliary greeter, and received a rarely awarded volunteer pin for serving over 2,000 hours. In addition, Gayle was instrumental in the 1970s recruiting and organizing volunteers for Fellowship In Serving Humanity (F.I.S.H.), to check in with isolated and elderly people by telephone. She was also active in the Community Concert Association, helping to facilitate performances by famous artists and musicians at the William Oliver Auditorium. Gayle was a life-long member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary 1088 of Escanaba. Gayle’s all-time favorite volunteer assignment was at an information booth inside the Delta County courthouse.

Gayle’s hobby was people. She loved socializing in every way, and she was full of energy despite ongoing health issues that resulted in thirteen surgeries over the course of many years. She had photographic memories of birthdays, anniversaries, and other dates that marked events in the lives of her family and friends. She loved hosting get-togethers at her home and cabin. Gayle was also very devoted to her Catholic faith, and donated time, talent, and treasure at their home parish of Saint Anne’s in Escanaba, as well as St. Joseph’s in Perkins, St Rita in Trenary, and St. Thomas By The Sea, Orange Beach, Alabama.

Gayle is survived by her loyal loving husband Roman, and her two sons, Christopher Gill (Linda Metzler), Berrien Springs, Mich., and Robert Gill, Columbus, Georgia. She was blessed to have two grandchildren, Martina Gilruth (John), Fort Wayne, Ind. and Joshua Gill (Erin Koren), Grand Rapids, Mich., as well as two great-grandsons, John and Theodore. Gayle especially loved those little ones — her Johnny and Teddy. Over the course of Gayle’s life, she remained close to aunts, uncles, and cousins of the Hovie, Larson, Nauer, and Ramseth families. She enjoyed sharing time with her 12 nieces and nephews, and looked forward to all the family reunions. Gayle is also survived by her youngest brother, Curtis Ramseth and wife Geraldine, Two Rivers, Wis., and two other sisters-in law, Virginia Phillips, Tucson, Ariz. and Janet Ramseth, Cecil, Wis.

She was preceded in death by her only sister, Marie Ramseth Dowse and Marie’s husband Byron, her brother Roger Ramseth, brothers-in-law Paul Stanik and Leo Phillips, and nephews Paul Stanik, Jr. and Nick Stanik.

Gayle’s family and friends brought her great joy, and she loved them all. We shall miss her.

Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 19, at the Allo Coolman Funeral Home, 400 S. 10th St., Escanaba, MI 49829, with a decade of the Rosary to conclude visitation at 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday May 20, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5803 State Highway M-35, Perkins, MI 49872, with Fr. Francis DeGroot officiating and Fr. Jed Patrick concelebrating.

A luncheon will follow Mass in the church parish hall. Burial will take place in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery.

The family requests that any donations be made to: Bay College Foundation, Gill Scholarship, 2001 N. Lincoln Rd., Escanaba, MI 49829.

Please visit www.allofh.com to send online condolences to her family.