Alton Gail

Funeral Services for Alton E. Gail will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Minnesota. Pastor Tom Olson will officiate. Alton passed away Monday evening, December 31, 2007 at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton. He was 78 years old. Friends may call for visitation on Friday, January 4th from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Church. There will be a prayer service at the church Friday evening at 7:00 PM. All of Altons 24 grandchildren and his 20 great grandchildren will be his pallbearers. His classmates of the Wheaton High School Class of 1947 and the past and present members of the Wheaton Fire Department are his Honorary Pallbearers. Interment will be this spring at the Wildwood Cemetery in Wheaton. Alton Edward Gail was born July 17, 1929 in Wheaton, Minnesota to William and Mary (Roman) Gail. Alton was baptized and confirmed in Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in Wheaton, and later became a lifelong member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He graduated from Wheaton High School in 1947. During his high school years he worked at the Wheaton Bakery and was involved in various sports and music. After high school he worked at the Wheaton Auto as a mechanic and later as a Chevy Car salesman. He had a passion for cars and could remember the make and model of the car and to whom he sold it. He later was employed by the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier, and worked there until he retired at the age of 60. On September 2, 1947 Alton married his high school sweetheart, Lorraine Larson. Their marriage was blessed with 7 children. He really enjoyed going to sporting events that his children and grandchildren participated in. He was a faithful and loyal fan of all Wheaton High School events. Alton enjoyed his life, his family and his friends. His favorite activities included working on cars, talking about cars, fishing, any type of sporting event, flying radio controlled airplanes, and most of all, being with his wife and his family. Alton was a member of the Wheaton Jaycees and a volunteer for the Wheaton Fire Department and Wheaton Ambulance Crew. He was also a member of the Wheaton Black Sheep Flying Club. Alton is survived by his wife Lorraine, 7 children: Sandra Conroy of Dumont, MN, Michael and Jean Gail of Wheaton, Richard Gail of Madison, MN, Dennis and Sandy Gail of Big Lake, MN, Scott and Lisa Gail of Fargo, ND, Lori and Brian Draxten of Fergus Falls, MN, Leann and Rick Sando of Rosholt, SD, 24 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Alton also has 1 sister-in-law: Barbara Gail of Fergus Falls, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother: Roman Gail, a son-in-law: James Conroy and 1 grandson, Steven Conroy.