My dear brother, Jim Gale was so wonderful to my daughter, Kim and me. He and Karon opened up their lovely home to us when we really needed it. When we left and returned to Minnesota, he gave me a bike for work, replaced it after it was stolen. Then later he gave me a car. 
Jim was one of the most generous and loving people I have ever known. He was incredibly witty and I loved to sit in his kitchen and listen to him babble and cook. I will miss him forever and I believe God has made a special place in Heaven for him and Karon and their 
dear son, Michael.

My dear friend Patricia Gale Cretilli invited me 40 + years ago to meet her family during graduate school Spring break. I always admired Jim’s creative business plans and goals. I havre fond memories of the Gale family and of Jim. My sincere condolences during this sorrowful time. 
Jan Youngblood

Thank you Uncle Jim! You always are in my heart! You always welcomed me and took time to talk to me. I appreciate how you’ve built your family and admire your “tribe”. You always made sure I felt a part of your tribe too. I’ll always be mad that you ate the chocolate bunny ears! 

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I'm Bill Gale. Jim, is my younger brother. His leaving us, is great shock! I miss him already. We are 18 months a part in age! The two of us together have had some Hilarious times!!! Jim and I were both added to the world up here in Minnesota with the Aid of an Italian mother and an English Irish father. Oh yes, Italian gives me the right to talk about Beverages, but I'll let it rest on the Spaghetti pot!!
Debra, Jim and  Karon's daughter has earned many pats on the back for alerting the 
Priest to Jim's condition and he was able to administer Last Rights 10 minutes beforeJim met
Our Lord. That was a great comfort to all. Now Jim is celebrating with Pop, Mama Mia, his son Mike, grandpa & grandma Cretilli along with millions of angels...What a PARTY!

When we were kids, we once lived on the corner of Parker & Chatsworth in Roseville MN. As boys will do, Jim and I got into arguments and 'scraps' with each other. Our mom had to separate us. On one such occasion when we were 9 or 10 years old, I was sent into the house while Jimmy remained outside.  After awhile, I heard Jimmy yell, "Billy, Billy, HELP me!" I looked outside to see two big neighbor boys on top of Jimmy, beating him up! I immediately jumped out of the window on top of them all! Jimmy and I turned the tide and scared those bullies away! Jim, it's always been you & me against the world! I love you always and forever!

Jim Gale was my brother in law. I am married to Pat Cretilli and if you read Pat's entry you know how grateful I am to Jim.  I have two little stories from a visit to his store in Scottsdale that will tell you not all you need to know about Jim, but certain essences. In the late 1990's Pat and Kim (Pat's daughter) and I were visiting. We wanted to visit the shop and buy some sculpture or jewlery. Well, Pat and Kim loved the sculptures, some of the better more expensive products. As they brought the products up to the counter I could see Jim getting more agitated. Pat and Kim have a good eye for quality.  When Pat and Kim selected the things they wanted to purchase, Jim moaned and groaned and said something like, "this is some of our best stuff and now I have to discount it." Pat said, "no you don't, in fact, we will only pay the marked price." 
"No Patty," Jim said. "You're family and dammit I have to give you a good deal." [and they argued but guess who won?}
Meanwhile, another customer came in and asked about a piece of jewlery. This time Jim brightened up and described  the history of the piece, who made it, where it was made, and maybe a little personal story of the artist. You might have been in a museum listening to the curator describe a piece of ancient art.  Whether customer bought doesn't matter and I don't remember. They had a great experience, heard a great story and never felt pressured or sold to. 
I'd known Jim along time by then and had many visits and talks with him. But that day and those two parallel events were for me the essence of Jim and whenever I think of Jim and want to smile I think of that visit to Rock of Ages.  So jim, is gone from my sight, but alway with me. 

Uncle Jim was a very special Uncle. Uncle Jim was very kind, giving, and had a laugh I will always remember. I always looked up to his strong and protective presence. I am grateful for time we were able to share with him and the family. When I was young, Jim, Karon and the kids always stopped by our house when they were in Minnesota. We always looked forward to their annual visit through the years. If we were lucky Jim would make a batch of his legendary spaghetti. In the evening Uncle Jim and my dad would always share a spirited conversation and this went on into the wee hours of the morning. I loved hearing the animated debate and there was always lots of laughter. I am not sure who talked louder. 

Uncle Jim was dedicated to his family. He was always working and the love between him and Aunt Karon was something very special. Jim and Karon were here visiting when I gave birth to my first daughter Brooke in 1984. I remember him holding this tiny little baby with such gentle arms. There were many special times celebrated throughout the years and no matter how much time went by between visits Jim always made us feel like we had just been there yesterday. 

When my dad passed away from cancer, Uncle Jim and Aunt Karon showed so much support for mom. Karon came and stayed with my mom for a month. Uncle Jim helped mom move to Arizona and get resettled which required a lot of work clearing her old house and getting ready for the move. My dad had always dreamed he would retire in Arizona. Jim took care of the logistics and helped mom make dads dream a reality. I am so appreciation of his kindness. This is something I would not have been able to do with 3 young children at that time. 

As the years passed we were able to visit Uncle Jim and Aunt Karon in Arizona. We loved sitting in the backyard by the lemon trees and watching the ducks. There was always great conversation with family and my girls loved the visits to Scottsdale and the rock shop.  

Love  and prayers Kelly

My dearest Jim or Jimmy, my wonderful friend, brother and mentor. He went home on Monday, March 1st, to his Heavenly Place after suffering pain for months and maybe years. 
Jim was such a significant person in my life, taking my daughter Kim and me in to live with him and Karon and their children. This was in the early 70’s when I was in need of a safe place to live and I was quite ill. Luckily, Jim and Karon were so generous with their beautiful home and welcomed us there. Kim has fond memories of that time, as do I. We lived in Arizona for two years then moved back to Minnesota. 
Jim gave me my second car and two bikes. One was stolen and he quickly replaced it so I could peddle to work. That was how generous Jim was. Always looking for ways to help us.
 Everywhere he was he made people smile and laugh. Also his cooking was delicious. I especially loved his Italian salads and spaghetti. He and I competed in the kitchen, but I admit he won. Fair and square.
When he had his open heart surgery, it gave us a chance to help Jim a bit. But as always he was strong and looked like he would mend on what he called his cardiac doctor’s advised medicine: OJ and Vodka. He lived strongly for another sixteen years. 
My fondest memories of my brother are of sitting with him and Karon under their umbrella tree and listening to his stories. He was the best story teller. Was it all true? Who knows! But does it matter?  The truth lies in his telling! 
I will forever love you and miss you my dear brother. I will include you in my morning hellos to all who have gone before you including sweet Mike. 
God Bless you Jimmy!

We never met Jim; know him only through his sister Pat, who loved him dearly, and found him a kind and generous spirit in her life.  Felt like we have known him through our long association with Pat, and know that he was loved and will be deeply missed.  Our sympathy and best regards to all his extended family.

Most of my childhood, I remember traveling from Scottsdale to Minneapolis and everywhere in between. Traveling to different hotels selling turquoise and silver. I would help my Dad with all the setup that we would do before each jewelry show. My Dad would let my sister and I work the less expensive jewelry like the two dollar ring table. Anytime we had a potential buyer of an expensive item we would start the sale, and let my Dad come in and close. Once when I was about 10 or 11,  I started to try to sell this older guy a very expensive squash blossom necklace. After a few minutes of talking, I moved aside to let Dad take over. Well,  the old man asked me where I was going and that he wanted to work with me. I didn’t want to mess the sale up, so I kept looking back at my Dad. I remember my Dad being so patient with coaching me, and the old man loved it. He finally bought the squash blossom, to my delight, the biggest sale of the show! My Dad was so proud of me, I will never forget that feeling. I have so many good memories like this one. 
Dad I love you so much, 
Your Son Tom


My deepest sympathies to you and your family.

I remember James as my second daddy........he always made me feel like a family member/daughter from the very first time that I met him.
James/daddy Jim & mom, Karon, lived right down the street, from us.

When I was home alone........there was a scorpion on our wall........I was frightened so I called over to their house and told them about the scorpion.

Moments later.......I heard a knock at our door.....it was daddy Jim, with a flip flop fly swatter, in his hand....he exclaimed, 'okay, where is it'? (I sort of laughed to myself) 
I pointed out the scorpion....he smashed it, 'disposed' of it and left.

For the last 15 plus years of living in Mesa, with him living down the street, I've never felt scared or threatened because I had him, to protect me when my husband, Tom was at work.
Since we re-located (moved to Scottsdale) it wasn't the same, without him.

Daddy Jim, was the man in the family, (next to my husband)that I ever truly loved and cherished
We had a father and daughter bond.

Whenever I called him, to say 'hello' he told me that I sound like his daughter, Rae(Debbie) and that to say that it was me, who was calling him, haha.

Daddy Jim loved my cooking and also loved to shake hot sauce all over it..........he just had his own way of, "Spicing things up"
My heart is broken......it just aches
We all, lost a link to our family........one of OUR OWN
I will miss you FOREVER dad
Please say 'hello' to Mike for us?
I know that Mike is wrapping his golden wings around you.
Godspeed
~I love you,
Your daughter in law,
Apryl

Growing up, Jim was my "Grandpa Gale".  That meant excitement to visit his and my Grandmother's house nearly every Christmas, occasional surprise visits to our house in California, and generally being spoiled rotten when he had a chance.  Most years we would drive to Arizona in mid-December, and we would know when we had nearly arrived at their house, on the same street since as far back as I can remember.  While Grandma was playing with us, Grandpa would be making “Grandpa’s Spaghetti”; a homemade-from-scratch sauce that is to date the most amazing thing I’ve ever tasted.  That pot required an entire day of stirring, and he did it gladly with love (A love that included poking teasing fun at you; whether kid or adult).

Of course what you REALLY wanted as a kid was the Lasagna that he made from this sauce!  Christmas dinner, this would be center of the table, as either Christmas music or (depending who controlled the stereo), the theme from “The Godfather” was playing in the background.  Nothing brought him more joy than having his family nearby, it swelled him with a pride and a light that no one could mistake for anything else.

He was generous to those he loved.  He gave my brothers and I our first Nintendo (but only after giving us a rock-in-a-box, with a note to ask for another present, something that made everyone laugh).  He had no qualms giving his grandson a job at his shop when my college plans were shattered.  And he was always open for a visit from us.  

He was passionate, quick-witted, and saw a bottle of wine and a spirited debate on the topic of the day as the most fun anyone could engage in; If he was wrong, he expected to be told so (so long as you had valid points backing up your claim).  Regardless of the outcome of even a heated argument, both victory and defeat were merely inspiration for the next conversation he wanted to have.  That was his way to bond… and the gleam in his eye is how you always knew he was having fun with someone he loved.

When I was 12, I locked the keys in my dads truck in 110 degree weather. My grandpa came and saved the day, and instead of being upset he laughed about the situation. That was just the kind of person he was. He spread his joy with everyone he came in contact with and the celebrations our family would share could never start without him. I will always be grateful for the lesson on what it is matters in life— family. After all, he spent 70 years with the strongest woman I know. I can only imagine the conversations he is having with uncle Mike already and while I am sad beyond belief I will always find comfort knowing that they’ll never be without each other again.

OBITUARY

James Louis Gale

September 30, 1935 – March 1, 2021

Lakeshore Mortuary

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