LIVED IN GRAND MARIS, MN UNTIL ALMOST 19YRS OLD. THE FAMILY CAME TO AZ WHEN JOHN WAS
JUST 14 FOR AWHILE TO GET SETTLED HERE WHILE HIS DAD WORKED AT THE LODGE IN MN. JOHN WENT BACK TO MINN TO HELP IN THE SUMMER AND HELPED HIS SISTERS IN AZ SETTLE. HE WENT TO TEMPE HIGH. WORLD WAR II STARTED AND JOHN WAS DEFERRED THE FIRST YEAR SINCE HIS FATHER PASSED AND HE WAS ONLY SON TO HELP MOVE THE FAMILY TO AZ AND SELL THE LODGE IN MN. THEN HE DID THE LAST 4 YEARS OF THE WAR OVER SEAS UNTIL THE WAR WAS OVER.
AFTER THE WAR HE RETURNED TO AZ WHERE HIS MOM AND FOUR SISTERS ETHEL, MARGARET, EDNA AND JUNE LIVED. JOHNS MOM RENTED TO A FAMILY IN HER 2 STORY HOME THE WHOLE UPSTAIRS. THE TENANTS DAUGHTER WENT TO SCHOOL WITH MARGIE'S YOUNGER SISTER MARILEE, AND BOTH WANTED TO GO A DANCE, BUT COULD NOT GO WITHOUT A CHAPERON. THEY TALKED JOHN AND MARILEE 'S SISTER MARGIE TO GO. NOT LONG AFTER THAT JOHN MARRIED MARGARET (MARGIE) AND BOUGHT A PIECE OF LAND FOR $750 ON THE CORNER OF 12TH AND FARMER AVE IN TEMPE 1946. THEY GOT MARRIED IN THE CHURCH ON UNIVERSITY AT THE 1ST UNITED METHODIST IN 1947. TEN YEARS LATER HAD ONE DAUGHTER EDITH GILBERTSEN. JOHN WORKED AT WILLIAMS AIR FIELD UNTIL 1960, THEN MOVED TO TUCSON TO WORK AT DAVIS MONTHAN AIR BASE ON REFUELING TRUCKS. HE RETIRED IN 1978 FROM THE AIR BASE AND MOVED BACK TO THE HOME ON FARMER. BOUGHT A CABIN IN THE FALL OF 78 AND FISHED ALL SUMMER AND CAME HOME IN THE WINTER. IN 1990 HE GOT HIS FIRST AND ONLY GRANDSON NATHAN SCHAUER.
HIS FAVORITE THINGS TO DO: CHURCH AND VOLUNTEER, HUNTING, FISHING, DANCING AND EATING, THE MOST WAS BEING WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND HELPING ANYONE. HE DID NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE HELPED. THE LAST 4 YEARS WE HELPED HIM, HE FINALLY GOT USED TO IT THIS YEAR. HE HAD A FULL LIFE OF FAMILY STORIES AND HELPING BUILD HOMES AND WALLS, LOVE CONCRETE WORK. MANY OF THE HOMES AROUND FARMER OR CHURCH HAD HIS HANDY WORK. HE MOWED CHURCH YARDS AND NEIGHBORS FOR NO MONEY. MOST HIS PAY WAS BEING INVITED TO DINNER OR BROUGHT DINNER WHILE HE WORKED. HIS DAUGHTER EDIE GROWING UP WAS IN GIRL SCOUTS, SINCE HER COUSINS WERE IN THE TROOP CALLING FOR AUNT MARGIE AND UNCLE JOHN THE WHOLE TROOP OF(33) GIRLS CALLED HIM UNCLE JOHN AND HE HELPED GET CAMPING AND HIKING BADGES TO ALL 33 GIRLS. JOHN HELPED WITH THE CAMPING IN THE METHODIST YOUTH GROUP AS WELL AND THE VOLLEY BALL GAMES HE DROVE MANY OF THE TEENS FROM ONE CHURCH TO ANOTHER IN BACK OF HIS PICKUP. EDIE WAS ON THE TUCSON DANCE TEAM THAT COMPETED IN VEGAS AND CALIFORNIA, AGAIN JOHN DROVE HIS FAMILY WITH OTHERS AND TOOK PICTURES DURING THE SHOWS AND COMPETITIONS.THE ENDLESS ENERGY HE HAD, LIKED PHYSICAL WORK AND HELPING PEOPLE. VISITING WAS HIS MOST JOY. HE WAS PROUD OF HIS GRANDSON NATHAN AND HIS DAUGHTER EDIE. NOT TO MENTION ANY RELATIVE THAT DID GOOD AT ANYTHING THAT HE WOULD SHARE WITH STORE CLERKS, GAS ATTENDANTS/ EVERYONE.
HE LOVED ALL OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALIKE. HE VOLUNTEERED IN KITCHEN FOR THE SENOR CENTER MANY YRS WITH MARGIE. HIS 2ND FAMILY WAS AT PATTY JONES HOME LAST 2 YRS. THEY LOVED HIM TOO. HE LOVED HIS WIFE MARGIE THE MOST AND WHEN YOU SEE THE PICTURES THEY ARE AT EACH OTHERS SIDE OR IN A BOAT, OR BY A CAMP FIRE AND DANCING. THEY SHARED MANY BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES AND MEMORIES WITH ALL OF US AND HALF THE TOWN IN TEMPE AND MESA AZ.
John Gilbertsen is survived by his wife Margaret Gilbertsen, his daughter Edith (Edie) Gilbertsen, grandson Nathan Schauer, two of his 4 sisters June Fallon, and Margaret Barge.
SHARE OBITUARY
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