Gilbert Wilke

Gilbert Wilke, 81, of Manahawkin passed away at home on July 22nd, surrounded by his loving family. Gilbert was born in Secaucus, New Jersey. He enlisted in the Army, and after attending Officers Training School, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He served in the Korean War, He married Etta Leshowitz in 1955. Later, Gilbert joined the Army Reserve Engineer Battalion, from which he retired as Battalion Commander at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. . In 1973, Gilbert earned a diploma from the Army Command and General Staff College, and he graduated from St. Peters College. In 2009, he wrote his first book Stories of War and Other Short Stories. Gilbert was a member of the Zipper Club, a volunteer organization at Deborah Hospital. Gilbert is survived by his wife Etta, his daughters Lee and her husband James McAna and Lauren and her husband Russell House, and his grandchildren Christopher, Meredith, Russell and Rachel. A visitation will be at the Thos L Shinn Funeral Home 10 Hilliard DR Manahawkin, NJ 08050 on Thursday from 2-4PM and 7-9PM. A service will be at Ocean County Memorial Park on Friday at 11Am. Entombment will follow. Condolences may be sent to: www.shinnfuneralhome.com