Gale A. "Dutch" Dewild

Gale A. “Dutch” DeWild, 70, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa was called home to our Lord on August 26, 2009 at his home surrounded by his beloved family after an extended illness.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 29, 2009 at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf. A luncheon will follow at Asbury United Methodist Church. Private family graveside services will be held at Davenport Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Gale & his twin brother, Dale were born on December 22, 1938 in Rock Island, Illinois to Benjamin & Florence (Pyfer) DeWild. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Leanna Owens on February 20, 1971 in Rock Island.
Gale led a colorful life by serving in the U.S. Air Force, working on road construction which included the Red Rock Dam in southern Iowa. He worked as a farm hand, an ambulance driver, a truck driver, a cook and a maintenance man. He graduated from Central Community College in Pella, Iowa with a degree in Culinary Arts and then owned & operated his own steak house. His true calling came after working in a Veteran’s Hospital as an orderly when he decided to become a registered nurse. Gale was one of the first male nurses to graduate from Scott Community College in 1972. He then began as career of over 30 years as a mental health nurse.
Gale’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the health care professionals who made the last months and days as comfortable as possible for Gale, including Dr. Letney, Dr. Ness, Dr. Rajput and Dr. Wong & their staffs.
He is survived by his loving wife, Leanna; his sons, Joel (Cindi) DeWild of Charleston, South Carolina, Tim (Elaine) DeWild of Shirley, Arkansas, Matthew (Paula) DeWild of Milan, Illinois; his daughters, Kimberly (Kevin) DeLong of Knoxville, Iowa and Shannon (Gavin) Wolever of Bettendorf; his grandchildren, Josh, Brittany, Nathan, Joseph, Devon, Jessica, Cole and Olivia who were the joy of his life. He is also survived by his brother, Vernon DeWild of Omaha, Nebraska; his sisters, Frances Santee of Colona, Illinois, Mary Ruth Trimble of Davenport, Iowa and Bertha Jean Spray of Davenport; and many nieces & nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Norman, Donald, Paul, Lester, and his twin, Dale; and by his sisters, Margaret and Elizabeth.