In Loving Memory of
Gale Vandemark

of
December 26, 1935 - May 6, 2025

Gale was born on December 26, 1935, in a sleigh in Hotchkiss, Alberta during a winter gale, while his parents were travelling for help with the birth. He was the fifth child of 12 born to Vane and Della Vandemark nee Wilson.

Gale was raised by his mother’s sister Olive and her partner Fritz Rayner. They resided on a quarter section on top of the Meikle River in Hotchkiss. Fritz was a baker from Owen Sound, Ontario. He and Olive left Ontario in May 1931, via Fritz’s automobile, to join her family in Hotchkiss. Gale spent his early life trapping, hunting and tending livestock with his Grandpa Wilson. There were always dogs in his life that were his constant companions who would take him to school in the area.

After Grade 9, Gale left school and he worked around the Peace country in construction, building roads along side his cousin Hubert Vandemark. Gale and Hubert married Ruth and Lynn Asmussen, daughters of William and Elizabeth, in a double wedding on December 12, 1956. The Asmussen farm became the second home of the Vandemark families.

Gale then went trucking, hauling gravel, and delivering fuel for Paul Diemert, the BA Oil agent and later for Henry Dillman, the Imperial Oil agent. He owned his own truck at times during this period. A trucking experience that he often talked about was when he was driving for Henry Dillman Transport hauling for the Great Slave Lake Railway project. Another favorite was hauling Caterpillar equipment from Montana to Manning while driving a B61 Mack for Mike Henitiuk Construction. 

Gale homesteaded a half section of land in Hawk Hills on the west side of the highway and farmed the Rayner quarter. He purchased some Venning family land later in west Hotchkiss. The Vandemark family traded their house in Manning for the John Davidiuk farmhouse in 1965 raising the children on this farm. The land was purchased in the early 1970’s and now totaled 7.5 quarters of farmland. In the mid 60’s he partnered with Fred Gould in the Shell Oil fuel distributing business and farmed together during this time. Fred continued with the business and Gale went on to several other endeavors. Land clearing, farming, trucking and later worked in the winter for Ray Roche in High Level hauling fuel. 

Many lifelong friendships were formed during the years he spent as a councillor representing the Hotchkiss area and managing the Twin Lakes campsite with Ruth. Gale sold his farmland in 1975 and went into the metal salvage business purchased from Corky Grimm. He set up the business on land on top of the Hotchkiss River on the east side of Highway 35. Metal salvage became a focus for the rest of his life as he literally spent time managing these business affairs within days of his passing on May 6, 2025, at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.  

Gale was predeceased by his wife Ruth and daughter-in-law, Christine (Tina) Vandemark nee Kamienecki.

He is survived by sons: William Gale (Charmaine), Lloyd Gordon, Thomas Allen, Fredrick James (Marilyn) and Melvin Laverne (Christine), grandchildren, Miranda, Wyatt and Jayden of Bill and Charmaine, Landon and Mitchell of Lloyd and Tina, Danielle and Caitlan of Tom and Trevor, Travis and James of Fred and Marilyn. Gale was also Great Grandfather to several great grandchildren.

A gathering of Family and Friends in memory of Gale will take place at the Hotchkiss Hall (Township Rd 932, Hotchkiss, AB) at 2pm on June 21, 2025.