She was born December 19, 1954, in Clinton, Iowa, the daughter of Russell David and Gladys Marie (Cronin) Naftzger. Gail’s grandparents were William and Ursula (Kennedy) Cronin of Fulton and Jesse and Mabel (Shook) Naftzger of Albany.
Gail was proud of her family’s heritage. She looked up to her dad, who was a paratrooper in WW II and built homes in the area after returning from war. She gained her sense of humor, smile and kind heart from her mom. Gail was proud to be a 7th generation direct descendant of John Hart, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
On October 8, 1977, Gail married Roger Gene Drolema at Immaculate Conception Church in Fulton. Together, they built a loving family and shared a life centered on faith, service, and devotion to those they loved.
Gail and Roger were blessed with two children: Jesse and Abbey (Fassbinder) Drolema of Dubuque, Iowa, and Alyssa (Drolema) and Brett Hatfield of Bettendorf, Iowa. Gail was especially proud of her two granddaughters, Lauren Drolema and Ava Hatfield, and she treasured watching them grow and participate in plays, gymnastics, and activities.
She is survived by her siblings, Greg Naftzger of Fulton and Jill (Tom) Doherty of DeKalb; her niece, Megan (Doherty) and Robbie Infantino and her great-nieces, Haley, Kendall, and Leah Infantino of St. Charles.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Gladys Naftzger, father- and mother-in-law, George and Gertrude Drolema.
Gail was a proud graduate of Fulton High School class of 1973. She went on to major in horticulture at Sauk Valley Junior College in Dixon. Her love of flowers and design led her to work as a floral designer for Gramer’s Florist in Lyons, Iowa; Wilson Floral in Morrison and Fulton; and Country Orchids in Fulton.
Gail also took great pride in her work with the Riverbend School District at Albany Grade School and Fulton High School. She was a loyal school aid and IT specialist for the school district and retired in 2017. Gail valued the friendships made in the school system to her final days. She was a faithful member and volunteer at St. Patrick’s Church in Albany.
Gail will be remembered for her love, kindness and nurturing spirit. She will greatly miss her conversations with her friends and neighbors. She organized many family events, reunions and enjoyed taking her grandchildren to the theater. She was an avid shopper, gardener, and gifted floral designer. Gail gave beauty to everything she did. Her home was always beautifully decorated for each season, reflecting her joy in making others feel welcome.
Friends and family are invited to the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. for visitation. Her funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Albany, IL. Interment will follow at Lusk Memorial Cemetery in Albany, with a luncheon at Harvest Bakery in Erie, IL, following the graveside service. A memorial has been established by the family.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to MercyOne Clinton, The Alverno, and MercyOne Genesis Hospice of Bettendorf, IA, for the compassionate and tender care given to her and her family.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gail, please visit the floral store. Condolences can be shared at bosmarenkes.com.
