Gail Joy (Edwardson) O’Brien age 75, died December 8 at Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, surrounded by her loving family. The second child of Harry and Hilda Edwardson, Gail was born on February 22, 1940 in Rhinelander. She has been a lifelong resident of Rhinelander until later years when she became a resident of Avanti Health and Rehab in Minocqua. Gail was a loving mother of two sons John and Rick; both of Rhinelander. She loved her sons and family dearly. Gail was employed through social service programs babysitting multiple kids through the years. She loved children and was a grandma to them all. She was known as Grandma Gail by many. She was also employed at the King Coin Laundromat where she enjoyed helping individuals with folding clothes or just helping with the kids or watching their machines while they ran errands. Gail loved helping people. During harvest season she picked beans for area farmers. She was active in both the Lions club and TOPS. Gail enjoyed spending time with her family and grandkids. She made each grandchild’s birthday special  by baking them a cake each year. She enjoyed spending many hours berry picking and canning anything she could get her hands on. But most of all she enjoyed baking cookies and sharing them with family and friends. She especially enjoyed this time of year when she would bake many spritz cookies and peanut butter balls sharing them with everyone. Gail is survived by her sons: John (Julie) Edwardson  and Rick (Dawn) Winn: six grandchildren: Benjamin (Kasi) Edwardson, Ashley (Kyle) McLaughlin, Jonathan (Kaitlin) Edwardson, Jeremy Miller, Ryan Winn, Jacob Winn and three great grandchildren with a new baby girl on her way in February. Also surviving is a sister: Dona Pasanen and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special family/friends Jack (Joan) Adkins. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, husband; George O’Brien  sister and brother in law; Nancy and Jack Arrowood and aunts and uncles. She was a real “Joy” to those who knew and loved her and will be greatly missed. Her family would like to thank her friends and family at Avanti for their loving care, the staff of Howard Young Medical Center and Chaplain Barbara for their comfort. The visitation for Gail will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at the Hildebrand Russ Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. funeral service. Interment will immediately follow at Northland Memorial Park. Hildebrand Russ Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501. 715-365-4343. Celebrating lives and healing hearts. All are invited to light a candle, sign the online guestbook, leave a photo or an online condolence at http://www.hildebrandrussfh.com/