Demoine J Gamble, treasured son, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away peacefully on June 9, 2018 at home in Anchorage, Alaska while surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Grover, Wyoming on October 18, 1936 to Jay and Wanda (Hincks) Gamble. His father worked construction, so Demoine moved with his family as they went from job to job throughout the western United States. He came with his family to Alaska in 1952 where he was a member of the first… Read More » graduating class of West Anchorage High School in 1954. Demoine attended college at Arizona State University where he graduated in 1960 with a Bachelors of Science in Building Construction, and where he also met his life’s love, Norma June (Hines) Gamble on Thanksgiving Day 1955. They married in February of 1957. Demoine and Norma returned to Alaska where Demoine worked in many locations throughout the state including Nome, and the Aleutian Chain. After the birth of their son’s James and Kent in 1959 and 1960, respectively, Demoine and Norma moved to Seattle, Washington where Demoine worked as a project manager for Alcan Pacific Company. After the 1964 earthquake in Alaska, the family returned to Anchorage where he worked for Western Construction Co. Their dear daughter Janelle (Hull) was born in 1965. In 1969 with the dissolution of Western Construction, Demoine and Norma founded Gamble Construction Co. operating at first out of a office in their home, and later growing Gamble Construction into a successful business with dozens of projects completed in Anchorage and the surrounding region. Demoine’s life focused around his family. His wife Norma and children Jim, Kent and Janelle carry fond memories of time spent camping and fishing throughout South Central Alaska carried to many happy adventures in a series of ever larger riverboats. When the summer faded there would be the interminable wait for enough snow to ski. Then, when our world had turned white, weekends would transition to the family cabin in Girdwood. The family would ski until legs could take no more; then it was time for hot cider and family sing along by the wood stove or playing cribbage and watching movies until sleep overtook them all. Demoine was an expert alpine skier and spent time skiing throughout the United States and eventually even exploring the slopes in Europe with his lifelong friend Bob Merritt. After the children had grown, Demoine discovered the joy of motorcycling and dove into this new hobby with an extraordinary enthusiasm, at one time counting nine motorcycles in his collection. His new found passion for riding spilled over to his sons, and the three of them shared many miles exploring Alaska and Canada from the saddles of motorcycles including memorable trips down the Alcan Highway, to Dawson City and across the Denali Highway. In later years, like so many Alaskans, Demoine and Norma embraced Hawaii as a refuge from the dark Alaskan winter. They counted Kona as their second home and shared many peaceful sunsets, content as the tropical light faded and the sound of a distant conch shell being blown signaled the last rays of light and the end of the day. During the last years of his life, Demoine’s time was spent enjoying the company of his loving wife, adult children and their spouses, grand children and great grand children. He passed peacefully at home in his bed, as was his wish, surrounded by family. He was a truly good man and was aware of how blessed his life was. He knew he was loved. He would not want us to mourn, but we know that he would forgive us this last indulgence until we can find a place to rest our heavy hearts and remember him not with sadness but with the quiet warmth and affection that he showed to those around him throughout his life. Demoine was preceded in death by his Mother, Wanda (Hincks) Gamble, and Father, Jay Gamble. Demoine is survived by his loving wife Norma (Hines) Gamble; his Children James T (Irene Persson) Gamble, Kent Walter (Lisaclaire Hale) Gamble, Janelle (Mark) Hull; his Grandchildren Kaley Elizabeth (Joel) Harmon, Benjamin James (Sophia Cain) Gamble, Andrew Casey (Kristy) Hull, Shelby Heather (Trever) Garcia, Austin Christina Hull; his great grand children, Claire Rose Larson, Rhodes Benjamin Harmon, Haven Grace Hull, Tobias Andrew Grant, Logan Demoine Hull, and Desmond Cain Gamble. There will be a celebration of life at 12901 Norak Place in Anchorage on the 8th of July starting at 2:30pm. The family asks that memorial bequests be made to either The American Diabetes Association or Frontier Home Health and Hospice of Anchorage, Alaska.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Demoine J Gamble 2018. Anchorage Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Anchorage, state: Alaska