Frances I. Gage

Frances Wilson Gage Frances Irene Wilson Gage, 97, of Rochester, MN, passed away at Madonna Towers Care Center in Rochester, MN on March 10, 2016. Frances was born on October 19, 1918 near Hayfield, MN, the daughter of Louis B. Wilson and Annette Wilson. She attended Hayfield and Rochester High Schools graduating in 1936. She was employed at the Mayo Clinic in the Old Red Building until her marriage to Robert P. Gage, of Rochester, MN on August 23, 1941 at the Evanger Lutheran Church. In addition to English, Frances read, wrote and spoke Norwegian, which she used on a trip to Norway with Robert to visit her relatives. They also enjoyed traveling to England, Italy, and Greece and especially enjoyed Sanibel Island in Florida. Widowed at age 45, she remained in Rochester and worked in several different places including the Mayo Clinic retiring at age 66. She put her children first supporting them through high school, college and on in life. She was active in Bethel Lutheran Church, continuing to support her church after she was unable to attend. She moved into independent living at Madonna Towers in 1998 and continued to pursue her interests in genealogy and family history, the study of the great religions of the world, and taking classes at the Rochester Community College. At the Towers she participated in the writing and book clubs, and working with the lending library cart. As part of the writing club, she wrote a small book of her farm memories. She was very proud of her husband, Robert, who worked at the Clinic as a medical statistician. He was also an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota teaching medical interns about statistics. He was well known in the Rochester community as a longtime member of the Board of Education guiding the development of education after World War II. After his death the newly built Gage Elementary School was named after him. Frances enjoyed visiting with the children at the school for many years. Frances is remembered by all who knew her as always a quiet and gentle lady. She is survived by two children, William Gage (Nancy) of Oakland, California, Roberta Gage of Lafayette, Colorado; three grandchildren, Jonah Drescher (Thamra), Willow Monterrosa (Antonio), Charol Barbieri; five great-grandchildren, Joaquin, Cinnamon, and Sabrina Monterrosa, James and Ann Marie LaVoie. She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Annette Wilson, her husband, Robert Gage, a brother, Spencer Wilson, two sisters, Marion Robinson and Lila Wilson and a son, John Gage. The family is planning a memorial service at Madonna Towers this summer.