Vineyard, Gale 1963-2025 Evanston, Ill.
EVANSTON, Ill. – Gale Barkley Vineyard was born on Dec. 20, 1963, into the happy household of Katherine and Ben Vineyard, in St. Joseph, joining siblings Ginny and Ben. Later when Kitty arrived, the family was complete.
From her earliest days to her last, Gale lived a life of cheer, gladness, laughter and love.
At an icebreaker in college when asked to introduce herself using an adjective starting with the same letter as her first name she didn’t miss a beat. “Hi, I’m Glad Gale”, she said. Nobody who knew her before or after would disagree.
She pursued lots of interests always – competitive swimming and horseback riding in her early days, corporate sales, swim team coaching and adventure travel later on – but the through line of Gale’s life was friendship.
She made friends everywhere, Noyes School, Central High School, University of Colorado, at every job and in every one of her neighborhoods. These friendships were close and lasted her entire life.
But all the friends and all the fun are no match for her love and pride of wonderful Johnny, Gale’s son and apple of her eye. She was a fierce supporter of his brilliant swimming and academic careers. Theirs is a bond that will never break.
Amazingly the diagnosis of brain cancer didn’t dampen her spirit. She ‘fought forward’ (another Gale motto) through treatment and rehab with remarkable courage; committed always to keeping a positive attitude. Her Flying Fish swimmers called it “Gale Force”.
Gale leaves us to remember her radiant smile, crack wit, eagerness for fun, brilliant sense of the ridiculous and playful spirit. Your whole world will miss you Gale.
Survivors: son, John Vineyard Martin; siblings, Ginny Vineyard (Morrie Pitluck), Ben Vineyard (Kay Evans), Kitty Vineyard (Joe Jochens); nephews, Ben (Abby Lerner) and Greg Scott (Kate); niece, Gigi Jochens; aunt and uncle, Gigi and Jock Streidl; great-nieces, Lily, Isla, Lucy; great- nephews, Myles and Benny; lots of cousins and tons and tons of friends.
Donations can be made in Gale’s name to the YWCA North Shore Flying Fish Aquatics Program
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/ywcevasho/
A memorial gathering will be held in early June. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
