Gale Pope of Kimball died Saturday, July 22, 2023, at the St. Cloud Hospital. He was 74. 
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Pearl Lake. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday, July 31, at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Kimball, and visitation will continue form 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Pearl Lake.
Gale Wheeler Pope was born Oct. 1, 1948, in St. Cloud to Wheeler and Laura (Scheeler) Pope. He grew up in the Kimball area where he graduated with the class of 1966; he then studied at St. Cloud State University. Gale had many talents that he incorporated into his work career. He worked at Mueller Office Supplies where he met the love of his life, Mary “Colleen” McMahon. On June 4, 2005, Colleen and Gale were united in Marriage, and Gale became a devoted husband and bonus father. Shortly after, the newlyweds moved to St. Cloud until 2016 when they moved back to Gale’s roots in Kimball. Blessed with many various skills, Gale renovated his uncle Frank and aunt Marie’s farm house where he and Colleen shared many beautiful years together.
Gale was an avid outdoorsman and adventurer. He was well known for his passions for hunting, trapshooting, and fishing, and he was able to mentor his family, or simply to spend time with them sharing what he loved. Using his hunting experience and love of the outdoors, Gale became the proud owner of American Outfitters as a bear guide. Gale was a proud member of Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, and The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation where he served as president. Gale loved his family unconditionally, and he made sure that they knew it. He always offered to help fix or solve any problem they were faced with.
Gale was preceded in death by his parents Wheeler and Laura Pope, brother Wayne Pope, nephew Travis Pope, and Uncle Frank and Aunt Marie Pope.
He is survived by his wife Colleen of Kimball; bonus children Corey Ehlert (and fiancée Amy Klug) of Sartell, Jason Ehlert (and significant other Adrianne Mager) of St. Cloud, Kim (and Tony) Manthei of Alexandria, and Kate (and Andrew) Lutgen of Loveland, Colo.; bonus grandchildren Jordyn, Issak, Francesca, Anthony, and Calum; sister Audrey Pope of St. Cloud; Aunt Gertie Scheeler of Kimball; sister-in-law Cindy Pope of Waite Park; nieces and nephew Lindsay Pope, Justin Pope, Kylie Eisland, Mikey Massetti; and many other extended family and friends.
The processional urn bearers will be Lindsey Pope, Justin Pope, Kylie Eisland, and Mikey Massetti; recessional urn bearers will be Corey Ehlert, Jason Ehlert, Kim Ehlert, and Issak Ehlert. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude and blessing to the first responders, paramedics, and nurses and staff at St. Cloud Hospital in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.