Gale H. Croft
Longtime Nikiski resident Gale H. Croft, 72, passed away Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021 at Central Peninsula Hospital from complications of sepsis, brain hemorrhage and strokes.
Memorial services will be 3 p.m Saturday, Aug. 28, at North Kenai Chapel, 53580 Kenai Spur Hwy. The service will be streamed live through youtube at https://nkchapel.org. Burial of her cremated remains will be in July 2022. Dan Teigen will officiate. A potluck will follow the service and please bring a dish of your choice.
Gale was born May 24, 1949 in Minnesota. She studied general college courses for 2 years while also being a nurse’s aide and caregiver.
Her family wrote, “Gale was born in Minnesota but a true Alaska through and through. She did home daycare for multiple families in Nikiski and all over the Peninsula for all ages from birth & newborn all the way through graduate and beyond. She retired from daycare work in the late 1990s.
Gale was a Christian and attended North Kenai Chapel. She believed strongly in God and better places up above. She was involved in many church crafts and events and craft bazars. Gale loved her family, grandkids, books, sewing, any and all crafts, bingo, her church, making others happy and tons of laughter.
Gale was the softest kindest would anyone would want to meet and have in their life. She always went out of her way to put others at ease and effortlessly helped anyone that asked if you knew her. She loved you with her whole heart. She was frequently referred to as Grandma Gale and deeply cared for all the kids she took care of. Her love of books was a running joke in our family in that we could ask for anything while she was reading and she would agree and then no remember it. She was a wife mom, grandma, friend and bright light to this world. She was an honorary grandma to many and she was our hero and champion. She will be greatly missed.”
Gale was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Summer and her parents, Paul and Edna Summer.
She is survived by her husband, Steve Croft of Nikiski; daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Chad Smith of Wasilla; grandsons, Tim Smith of Wasilla and Tyler Smith of Seattle, Wash.; granddaughter, Amanda Smith of Wasilla; daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Anthony Helms of Kenai; granddaughter, Hailey Helms and her spouse, Laural Dunham, both of Austin, Texas; sisters, Laura Groom and Linda Summer, both of Minnesota, and Paula Chartock of California; best friends, Karen and TJ Hinkle of Nikiski, Gale and Georgiana Eckert and their entire clan, both local and countywide, Donna Wood of Colorado, and Donna Check and spouse of Wasilla, Patty and CW Gallien, and their boys Hunter and Skyler of Wasilla and Anchorage; and multiple friends, family and extended relatives, locally and out of state.
Gale would prefer donations to help children. Donations can be made to North Kenai Chapel, Attn: Children’s Church to support Christmas boxes, AWANNA’s and overseas programs for all kids in need.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.
