Henry Houghton Gildemeister was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 28, 1929, and died in Nashville, Tennessee on February 27, 2019. He was the only child of the late Edwin Charles Henry Gildemeister and the late Helen Isabel Houghton Gildemeister. His wife, Gloria Elaine Harger Gildemeister, predeceased him on October 31, 2018. He grew up in Woodhull, Illinois and graduated in 1951 from Monmouth College where he met his beloved Gloria.
Hank joined IBM and for 24 years worked for them in sales and marketing management at several locations in IL, NY, PA, AL, TN. When the family moved to Nashville, they decided it would be their forever home; and upon leaving IBM, he began a career in residential real estate. He worked from the age of 14 to his retirement at age 80 when he left to take care of his wife. During his 48 years in Nashville, he was dedicated to West End United Methodist Church, worked tirelessly for the Samaritan House for 40 years, and was on the board of many other organizations. He was proud to have kept the thriving family farm which his great grandfather established in Woodhull in 1850. It was designated a historic Sesquicentennial Farm by the State of Illinois.
His was a life well-lived. He gave of himself generously, loved deeply, and cared for all. He had vast and various groups of friends, real friends, and stayed in touch with childhood friends and past co-workers, neighbors and clients. They all meant the world to him, and he them. He was funny and he was fun. He was a true Christian. He loved little children, most importantly his two grandchildren. To us, his family, he was wise and wonderful.
Left to mourn his death are his daughter Ann Gildemeister, son Thomas "Tom" Gildemeister and his wife Julia Gildemeister and their children Thomas "Tee" Gildemeister and Anna Gildemeister. We are heart-broken and will miss him dearly.
The service will be held on Saturday, March 9 at 2 pm at West End United Methodist Church on West End Avenue. A visitation will take place earlier that day at 12:30 pm at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to West End United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.
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