H. Gale Wells, age 98, of Barron, passed away on January 5, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.

He was born on October 2, 1925 in Barron to Floyd and Anna (Melgard) Wells. He grew up in the Barron area and graduated from Barron High School.

On February 3, 1951, he married Elaine Seeger of Prairie Farm. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary on February 3, 2023.

He went into business with his father at the Northern Granite Corporation immediately after high school. He continued to be active in Northern Granite Corporation until his retirement in 2002, at which time, his son, Kris purchased the business. He loved his work, especially the people he served.

He was baptized at the First Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Blue Hills Lodge #234 (formerly The Barron Masonic Lodge), The Eau Claire Consistory, the Zor Shrine Temple of Madison, The Order of The Eastern Star (Past Worthy Patron) in Barron and a member of the Rice Lake Elks Lodge #1441 for 78 years. He was on the Barron Cemetery Board for 50 years and served as President from 1992 until 2023 and he was a Director on the First National Bank Board for 35 years.

Gale loved to fly and received his pilot’s license when he was sixteen. He owned his own plane until 1994. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and golfing. He and his wife loved to travel and saw many places of interest in the world. In the later years, they took their grandchildren on yearly summer vacations.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine of Barron; son, Kris (Lori) Wells of Barron; daughters, Jean (James D.) Porrett of Sun City Center, Florida and Joan (Craig) Wooldridge of Rice Lake; grandchildren, Kara (Peder Schieffer) Wells, Krista (Joshua) Hanson, Britt (Heather) Wooldridge, Adam (Rachel) Woolridge; great-grandchildren, Dakotah Lundequam, Teagen Schieffer, Summer and Brady Hanson, Jackson, Cameron, Parker and Theodore Wooldridge; great-great-grandchildren, Maci, Wells, Avery and Kam Lundequam; sister, Floy Ann Dorgan of Altoona; brother-in-law, Ronald (Terri) Seeger of Rochester, MN; sister-in-law, Mildred (Gary) Sartor of Huntington Beach, CA; special family members, Nancy Hyllengren, Jason (Anne) Miloszewicz, Jeremy Miloszewicz; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Krista Ann; son, Jackson; sister, Ida Mae Curt & husband, Albert; brother-in-law, Harold Dorgan; and brother-in-law Herby Seeger and his wife, Barbara Seeger of Turtle Lake.

A funeral service for Gale Wells will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Barron with Rev. Ron Mathews and Tamra Harder officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday morning. He will be interned at the Wayside Cemetery in Barron.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Lutheran Church in Barron, Shriners Children’s in the Twin Cities.

Arrangements are being handled by Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron.

Last Update: Jan 08, 2024 12:11 pm CST