Donald L. Gilbert

Donald L. Don Gilbert, 80, of 1000 N. Eisenhower Avenue, died Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Memorial services will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 100 1st Street NE, with Rev. Charles Aurand and Rev. Jim Stiles officiating. According to Dons wishes, he will be cremated. Private inurnment services will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery. Full military rites will be provided by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Nancy and her family will greet friends from 9:30 to 10:30 AM Saturday in the Stone Fellowship Room at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or KCMR Radio.

Don was born July 10, 1930 in Buffalo Center, Iowa the son of Harry and Jennie (Rippentrop) Gilbert. He graduated from Buffalo Center High School and following graduation enlisted in the Army. Don served overseas in the Far East Command, mostly in Okinawa. He was in the 76th Engineering Construction Battalion which was connected to the Marines. Following his discharge, he came to Mason City where he met and later married Nancy Biederman of Osage on October 16, 1954. To this union three children were born, Brenda, Nancy, and Darrell. Don and Nancy have lived all of their lives in Mason City, except for a brief time in Phoenix, Arizona, Tyler, Texas, and Osage, Iowa.

Following the military, Don worked for several construction companies before he started his own company, Donald L. Gilbert Construction Co., Inc. He built over 250 homes in Mason City, predominately in the Bel Air addition and others throughout Mason City and Clear Lake. He also did light commercial work, including the remodeling of the former Indianhead, Kriegers Greenhouse, the IOOF Home, former Juvenile Home, and others. Don was known for the quality of his work and his integrity. He retired early because of knee problems which plagued him since a football injury in high school. Even then he never gave up his interest in woodworking, always maintaining a little shop where he did custom work, and making furniture and small decorative things for family and friends. He also made many clocks, both grandfather and schoolhouse varieties.

Don loved to hunt and fish and kept family and friends well-supplied with fresh fish. He was well known for his fish fries. He made two trips to Alaska bringing back fresh salmon and halibut. For many years, he and his fishing buddies would wait for the signal, the ice is out at De Mille Lac Lake in Ontario, Canada and away they would go, usually on Mothers Day weekend. Don also owned several cabins in Northern Minnesota on Lake Inguadona, Mule Lake, and Woman Lake. He was an avid hunter, hunting for deer, bobcats, and other wild life out west and in Canada, his pride and joy, a moose. The moose head hung over the fireplace and every child who visited had to be held up to pet the moose. It wore a red ribbon at Christmas time.

Don was a long time member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ where he served on the Board of Trustees and the Prudential Board. He helped maintain the church building and also built several pieces of furniture for the church. He was a member of VFW Post #733 in Mason City where he served as Commander and then went on to serve as Third District Commander. He was appointed National Aide de Camp several times and National Chief of Staff. He also served as Jr. Vice Commander for the State of Iowa. For many years, he was editor of the state newspaper, The Iowa Voice, and was also the State Voice of Democracy Chairman. For ten years in the spring, Don attended meetings in Washington DC with other VFW members throughout the United States. After retiring from these activities, Don made flag boxes for friends and also to sell. All of his projects were beautifully done. He was well-respected in the state for his efforts and devotion to duty. Besides his work, hunting, and fishing, he also loved to travel, see his grandchildren, work with flowers, and his coffee groups.

Don is survived by his wife, Nancy of Mason City; daughters, Brenda Gilbert of W. Lafayetts, Indiana, and Nancy Gilbert (Mike Despenas) of Des Moines; son, Darrell Gilbert (Brenda Andrews) of Johnston; grandchildren, Grace Cannell (Elias) of Wheaton, Illinois, Kevin Willis of W. Lafayette, Indiana, Jared, Jenna, and Nicole Gilbert of Johnston; brothers, Harry (Nancy) Gilbert, Robert (Arlene) Gilbert and David (Patricia) Gilbert, all of Mason City and Russel (Virginia) Gilbert of Brook Park, Minnesota.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Mary Dolling, Arlene Cronk and Lily Gilbert.

Don lived a long and productive life and was a devoted husband and father. He loved his grandchildren, two of whom knew him as Papa and the others as Grandpa. He will be sadly missed by his family and all who knew him.

Memorials:
Hospice of North Iowa or KCMR Radio

Cemetery:
Memorial Park Cemetery

Visitation:
Nancy and family will greet friends from 9:30 to 10:30 Saturday in the Stone Fellowship Room at the church.

Service:
11:00 AM Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ