Leonard Gilbertson

Whitey Gilbertson, age 82, was called home to Jesus' side on Monday morning, May 24, 2010. He was born in Trempeleau County on September 12, 1927, son of the late Melvin and Elizabeth (Emert) Gilbertson. Whitey grew up on the family farm with his brothers, Alvin and Vernon. At the age of seventeen, he left home and worked at many odd jobs, that included herding cattle in Montana on horseback, working backstage for a circus, and racing stock cars. In 1950, Whitey married the love of his life, Esther Wyngard at Holy Name Catholic Church in Kimberly. Soon thereafter, the couple purchased a diary farm in Nichols where Leonard also worked a milk route and worked at the Kimberly Clark mill in Kimberly. After a back injury, he and Esther sold the farm and moved to Grand Chute. Leonard retired from the paper mill in 1993, and he and Esther built a home on Legend Lake near Keshena. In 2009, they relocated to a home in Darboy. Leonard enjoyed collecting antiques, fishing, birdwatching, reading, playing cards, taking drives in the county, gardening, camping, and spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife: Esther Gilbertson of Darboy; seven children: Michael (Jennifer) Gilbertson of Darboy; Ronald (Evelyn) Gilbertson of Kaukauna; Richard (Cindy) Gilbertson of Black Creek; Susan (Arnold) Truckey of Freedom; Cheryl (Lee) Wirth of Combined Locks; Kathleen Van Deurzen and her fiancé Blaire Deiermann of St. Louis, Missouri; and Nancy (Shawn) Diamond of Oshkosh; nineteen grandchildren: Nichola Gilbertson; Matthew (Kelli) Gilbertson; Jamie (Matthew) Rice; Denise (Shawn) Niemuth; Andrew Gilbertson; Michelle (Wade) Anderson; Kylie Gilbertson; Brian Gilbertson; Jason Nickel; Marvin (Kimiko) Nickel; Leon Nickel; Daniel Nickel; Jordan Wirth; Alex Wirth; Jonathon (Sara) Van Deurzen; Angela (Gary) Kloehn; Riley Diamond; Megan Diamond; and Delaney Diamond; seven great-grandchildren: Kaela Gilbertson; Alexander Niemuth; Delilah Gilbertson; Mason Van Deurzen; Derik and Taylor Anderson; Michael Rice; and two more little ones expected soon. Leonard is also survived by a brother: Vernon (Virginia) Gilbertson of Chili, Wisconsin; three sisters-in-law: Patricia Gilbertson of Nekoosa, Wisconsin; Marie (August) Mielke of Kimberly; and Betty (Vince) Bahl of Marinette; and a brother-in-law: James (Evelyn) Wyngard of Kimberly. There are also many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Alvin, a son Allen Gilbertson, two grandchildren: Scott Gilbertson and Timothy Nickel; sisters-in-law: Rose (Jacob) Van Nuland, Dorothy (George) Rastall, Ruth (Ed) Hudak; and a brother-in-law: Martin (Lilo) Wyngard.

The funeral liturgy will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 29, 2010 at HOLY SPIRIT PARISH – KIMBERLY SITE, 600 E. Kimberly Avenue in Kimberly with Fr. David Beaudry officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM and again at the church on Saturday morning from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. There will be a parish prayer and scripture service at the funeral home at 7:30 PM on Friday.

Jansen Fargo Funeral Home
204 E. Kimberly Avenue
Kimberly, WI 54136
920-788-6202