Gilberto "Gil" Otero Pena, age 88, of Belton, Missouri passed away on Saturday, June 18, 2022. Gilberto was born February 15, 1934. Gilberto (Gil) Otero Pena the patriarch of the Pena family left his earthly body on Saturday, June 18, 2022. He was preceded in his death by his parents Antonio Ortega Pena and Leo Otero Pena and his sister Mela Gonzales. Gil’s spirit will be carried on by his brother Johnny Pena (Ramona) and his children Cindy Wagner (John), a son, Anna Roberts (Jeff), Beth Lingar (Greg) and his grandchildren Jacob (Lyndsey) Wagner, Sarah (Sean) Gillispie, Jacob (Kristina) Lingar, Alyssa Wood, Megan (Saul) Begley, Zachary Pena, Abigail (Zane) Mapes, Katie Roberts, Lauren Roberts, Austin Roberts and Anthony Pena and his great grandchildren Joshua Wagner, Lana Wagner, Preston Wagner, Maverick Wagner, Kaylyn Gillispie, Kimber Diane Gillispie, Zoey Fabrizio, Desmond Lingar, Samantha Lingar, Madelyn Lingar, Nixon Begley and Prestyn Mapes; his extended family and his many friends from every walk of life including his companion and later-in-life love Rinny Corrigan.
Gil was born in Peralta, New Mexico and spent his early childhood in San Mateo, New Mexico finally settling in Grants, New Mexico. He graduated from Grants High School in 1952 and after graduation he attended one year of college at the University of New Mexico. Gil soon realized that college was not his calling, so he moved to Colorado to work at the Pueblo Ordnance Depot and after seven months he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps becoming a Tank Commander and rising to the rank of BUC Sargent. He served a tour of duty in Japan and upon returning to his home, Gil often told the story of how he sailed under the Golden Gate bridge passing Alcatraz. Gil declared Alcatraz to be the one rock he never wanted to visit.
After his tour in the military, Gil went to Chicago and worked for the New York Central Rock Island. He loved watching the trains and the people coming and going in the city. Gil was always wondering what the people were doing and where they were going. Unfortunately, he missed his family, so he decided to return to Grants, New Mexico.
Upon his return, he went to work for the Kerr McGee Nuclear Fuels in Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico. He worked four years in the mines and an additional six years in the crusher room. While working there he experienced exposure to the uranium dust that would surface years later and ultimately was a contributor to his passing. Gil was involved in an explosion while changing a transmission on a truck at the plant injuring his back. This accident allowed him the opportunity to go to Kansas City, Missouri to be trained in the field of Diesel/Electrical. What he found while in school was a passion for a career in the electrical field.
Upon receiving his certification, Gil returned to Grants, New Mexico and informed his family he would not be opening a business in his hometown. Gil knew there was more opportunity in Kansas City, so he decided to move his small family to start a new career. In the late sixties Gil went to work for IBEW Electrical Workers Union. Gil became very good at his craft and realized he could branch out and own his own business.
His lifelong friend Roy Helt and Gil opened a small electrical business in Harrisonville, Missouri specializing in residential electrical. This business was quite successful for both men yet there was a yearning in Gil to move into the field of commercial electrical. This is when Gil’s Electric Company was opened in Harrisonville. This business venture allowed Gil the opportunity to fine tune his specialty in circuit relays. He was renowned in his expertise in this field. Some of his customers included the Coca Cola Bottling Plant, Osco Drug Stores, Katz Drug Stores, Performance Roofing and Napa and many others until his retirement.
When the economy in the late 70’s was changing and construction slowed, always looking for opportunities to provide for his family he founded Gil’s Imports. This company would import pottery and leather goods from Laredo, Texas and Mexico to the Kansas City area. He would conduct his sales from his box truck at every local drug store and greenhouse in the area. The pottery and leather goods were new to the region, and he typically would sell his truck load within days of arrival. To this day, his fondest import was the leather capes.
While recovering from brain tumor removal surgery in the summer of 1980, which was a result of his exposure to uranium he founded the Gil’s Sales Company. At one point this business was the leading distributor for WW Grainger in the Kansas City Market. Each of his daughters worked for this company in some capacity. This company is still in existence and is a very successful fixture in the Belton, Missouri area and is now commonly known as GSC Lighting & Supply. It is owned and operated by his daughter Anna Roberts and her husband Jeff. Our father was very proud to see his daughter make this business a successful venture for her and her family.
Upon retirement from Gil’s Electric Co., he purchased a tool repair company on Southwest Blvd. known as All Metro Tool Repairs. This business was the one that never flourished as he hoped but it allowed him the opportunity to visit his favorite Mexican Bakery, Reyna’s, off Kansas Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas. Always a visionary, he saw an opportunity on a large parcel of vacant land in the Belton area for sale. A partnership was formed to purchase this land. This parcel of land changed the economic landscape for the City of Belton and provided a vast new development opportunity for the community with the growth of Home Depot, Target, Kohls and recently Menards. There were many partners on this project and one being his childhood friend Senecca Marquez from Grants, New Mexico. In addition, he developed a lasting friendship with developer Dave Christi. A monument erected by the City of Belton thanking the partners of the 58-71Hwy Partnership was dedicated in December 2017. Gil continued to purchase additional parcels of land and rental properties throughout the Cass County area and maintained these properties until his passing.
Gil married Nelda Joy Kelley in Grants, New Mexico on November 25, 1959, and from this marriage they had 3 daughters Cindy, Anna and Beth and a son. They raised their family in the Park Hills Subdivision in Grandview, Missouri and attended Coronation of Lady Catholic Church. While attending church, he developed lasting friendships with the parishioners. He enjoyed being a member of the Couples Gourmet Club and their monthly dinners and the everlasting friendships. He loved to assist his friend Pat Julio, who maintained the food pantry at the church, and would assist her with whatever she would need. He admired her tireless work and dedication to the church.
One of Gil’s favorite investment properties was the acreage in Cleveland, Missouri which housed the Big Red Barn. He enjoyed the open space and peace the land provided him. When he was no longer able to drive there, he maintained a picture of this barn in his room as it brought him great comfort. Gil loved each of his daughters fiercely and was very proud of his daughters and their independent successes in life. He installed a work ethic in his girls that is an example of the Pena family legacy. Gil found joy and happiness in watching his family grow with his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren. He would call his family to see how their day was going and always asking is this a Chicken Day or Feather Day.
In the last four years of Gil’s life, he lived at Carnegie Village Senior Living Community in Belton, Missouri. There he met many new friends and reconnected with old ones. In the evenings, you could find him sitting outside with his friends talking and enjoying the sunset. He met his loving companion Rinny Corrigan, and they would both say neither of them were looking for a relationship. They were together daily, and you could never find one without the other. The love they shared for one another was something special and it brought many smiles to those who saw them. Both Cindy Wagner and Beth Lingar would like to personally acknowledge and thank our sister, Anna Roberts, for her tireless efforts in managing the vast properties and land owned and operated by Gil Pena throughout the years.
In addition, the family would like to thank the nurses of Carnegie Skilled Nursing, Good Shepherd Hospice and Joe Falco for the kindness, grace, and comfort they provided to our father and to each of us during this difficult time. His Catholic faith and the Lady of Guadalupe provided him much comfort and peace throughout his life.
Funeral services for Gil will be held at St. Sabina Parish, 700 Trevis Ave. in Belton, Missouri on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 with Visitation 10:00 am – 11:00 and Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00 am. A luncheon will be served at the church following the Mass. If you are unable to attend in person, https://www.Facebook.com/StSabinaParish/live (this is for the live streaming). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Gil’s memory be made to the St. Sabina Parish Building Fund.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleygeorgegrandview.com for the Pena family.
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