James Gale

James K. Gale

Age 77 of Wilmington, passed away Saturday morning August 30, 2014 at his home.

Born April 5, 1937 in Morris, James Keith was a son of the late Keith and Mary Margaret (Cushing) Gale. He was raised in Morris until moving to Coal City his junior year of high school. He was a graduate of Coal City High School with the class of 1955 and went on to further his education at Western Illinois University. In March of 1958, Jim was inducted in the United States Army, where he served in the Pacific until being honorably discharged. On July 14, 1962, Jim married Aldeene Rink in Saint Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington, and together they made their home and raised their family in Wilmington. Jim worked as an IBEW #1942 Stewart and at Amoco Oil before returning to school in 1964 to become a real estate broker. Jim sold real estate throughout the area for more than 35 years, until retiring from Gale Real Estate, which he owned and operated. He was a 26 year veteran of Will County politics and spent four years on the Wilmington City Council. As a County Board member, Jim served on the Capitol Improvements Committee, Finance and Operations Committee and the Will County Adult Entertainment Watchdog Group. Jim also served as a Commissioner on the Will County Forest Preserve, Chaired the Will County Land Use Committee and was appointed Chairman of the Joliet Arsenal Reuse Committee by former Congressman George Sangmeister. Jim helped to bring two business parks, a national tallgrass prairie and a national cemetery to his district. He supported the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor project, and he served on the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Veterans Support Committee. He was an active member of Saint Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, was on the board of directors of Galowich YMCA, was a member of the Wilmington Lions Club, charter member of the Coal City Area Club and belonged to the Knights of Columbus and the Wilmington Moose Lodge #241. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping, and took great pleasure in traveling. He cherished his family and children, and adored his four grandchildren.

Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years Aldeene; two daughters: Cindy Gale of Naperville and Sheri (Steve) Smith of Joliet; four grandchildren: Alexis Mansfield, Taylor Mansfield, Brianne Smith and Gavin Smith; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Bob and Martha Rink of Wilmington, Gary and Diane Rink of Coal City and Diane and Ned Robertson of Manteno, and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as a host of friends and his faithful companion Lucky Lady.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents: Keith Gale and Mary and Bill Black; one brother Billy Black and his father and mother-in-law: Al and Libby Rink.

Visitation and video tribute will be held on Wednesday September 3, 2014 between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. Funeral services will follow Thursday morning September 4th at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Rose Catholic Church, 604 South Kankakee Street in Wilmington, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Reverend Steve Bondi officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood.

Pallbearers will be: Bobby Rink, Alex Rink, Tim Rink, Neddy Robertson, Denny Costello and Jacob Garvey. Honorary pallbearers will be: Ron Habing, Jack Tyler, Benny Holman and Marvin Giordano.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Jim's memory to Kuzma Care Cottage, 635 South Main Street, Wilmington, Illinois 60481.

Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.BaskervilleFuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815/476-2181)