Gail L. Christians

Gail L. Christians, 71, Edgar died Sunday, March 22, 2015 at the Hospice House, Wausau. Gail Lynn Christians, the daughter of Alexander and Emma Dottai, was born in Sheboygan, Wis. on September 22, 1943. She was baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheboygan. At age 12 she confessed her baptismal faith in the rite of confirmation at St. Paul's. On January 22, 1968, Gail was joined together in holy matrimony with the love of her life, James ("Jim") Christians. Between 1969 and 1979, they had five children whom Gail stayed home to raise. The growing family moved from Wisconsin to Iowa, from St. Louis, Missouri and back to Iowa. They settled for two decades in northern Michigan, most of that time on a peninsula on Duck Lake. Many wonderful memories formed through swimming, waterskiing and cocktails on the pontoon boat in the course of their years on the lake. Gail and her family joined small Redeemer Lutheran Church, where their many children almost single-handedly started the Sunday School program. And since she was bringing all these kids, guess who won the honor of serving as the first Sunday School teacher? Gail liked to play cards, from canasta and sheepshead to cribbage and Skip-Bo. In addition to playing cards, she had the extremely frustrating habit of winning early and often. Although she was frequently accused of cheating by her children, we're pretty sure she was just an excellent player. The oddest thing about Gail? She liked to clean. She liked to do laundry. Moreover, she LOVED to iron clothes. Nevertheless, she prized family time above all else, and would set aside cleaning in order to spend time with loved ones. She took special delight in her grandchildren and worked hard at her self-appointed goal of rotting out their teeth with sweets. She enjoyed decorating and keeping a beautiful home where friends were always welcome to join for big, boisterous dinners. She wasn't afraid to instigate the occasional food-fight. Rumor has it food even once landed on the roof! After Jim's retirement, the pair traveled extensively, seeing the country in their fifth-wheel trailer. Gail and Jim moved to Edgar in 2006 to be closer to family. They were active at St. John "High Steeple" Evangelical Lutheran Church. She enjoyed babysitting grandchildren every week, fishing with Jim, and hosting family gatherings at the home. Finally on March 22, 2015, at the age of 71 years, God blessed Gail with a holy death and took her home to rest in the arms of Jesus to await the resurrection of the dead. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Gail was preceded in death by her husband, James, and her sister, Ruth Steinhaus. She is survived by her brothers, Ralph (Daniela) Dottai, Sheboygan, Wis., and Kenneth (Barb) Dottai, Hartford, Wis., and sister Karen (Robert) Sessler, Big Rapids, Mich. Also surviving are five children: Edward (Beth), Eureka, Calif.; Michael (Brandi), Traverse City Mich.; Matthew (Maggie), Hatley, Wis.; Ann (Andy) Alberts, Tallmadge, Ohio; and Patrick (Lindsay), Madison, Wis. She had five grandsons and four granddaughters. Friends may call at St. John "High Steeple" Evangelical Lutheran Church, W1145 Huckleberry St., Edgar, from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 26 and from 2-3 p.m. on Friday, March 27. A Christian funeral service is set for Friday, March 27, at 3 p.m. at St. John. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar, is assisting the Christians family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to St. John "High Steeple" Evangelical Lutheran Church, Edgar.