Gail Gumness

Gail Jane (DuBrucq) Gumness - photographer, reader, decorator, political activist, crafter extraordinaire, and family matriarch - passed away on June 30, 2023. Born in Menominee, MI in 1938 and raised in Antigo, WI, Gail met the love of her life after dropping her books on the staircase of UW-Marathon County and married Richard Gumness in 1957. Gail became a Navy wife for ten years and created a home wherever Dick was stationed, inviting young sailors that he mentored to join in their growing family. Seventeen years and eighteen moves took them from Wisconsin to London, Illinois to Kansas to South Dakota, and finally back home to Wisconsin. Gail worked as a waitress, mediator, counselor, and photography instructor.

She is remembered for her zest for life, artistic flair, and love of RV travels with Dick. By her family, especially, she is remembered as a cleaner of a pristine home, the setter of beautiful holiday tables, a keen photographer of their many adventures, and the many carousels of slides that followed. Gail was a painter of gourds and a collector of her beautiful treasures. Many genres of music filled the air in her home. She was the director of activities, the editor of homework, and baker of Christmas cookies, The Kool-Aid Mom. During football season, you could always count on the shrieking of "Yippee" at a Packers' touchdown.

The best of her golden years were spent on Two Sisters Lake where you could find her swimming laps around the raft or kayaking around the lake followed by a pontoon ride captained by her beloved husband.

Following a long battle with dementia, Gail came to rest with her children and grandchildren near her and the sound of wood flutes playing at her bedside. Her legacy is love, strength, and joy in the beauty that she gave to all who knew her. 

She was preceded in death by her dear husband, her "Bear," Richard Gumness of Woodruff and Wausau, her parents Robert and Jane (Masse) DuBrucq of Antigo, her sister Patricia (DuBrucq) Grall and brother-in-law Joseph Grall of Wausau, and nephew Robert Hull.

She was known to her children - Karen Gumness-Gabert (Tom), Brian L. Gumness (Sandy), Kristen Breitzman (Bob), and Gregg Gumness (Stephanie) - as Mom. To her 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren as Gram or Grandma Gail. 

Gail is also survived by her sisters Mary Lynn (Bill) Hull of Wausau and Nancy (Wayne) Tews of Antigo.

A celebration of life will be held at The Friends Gathering Space at the top of Rib Mountain State Park in Wausau, WI on July 30 from 11:00-3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.