Gaylen Hartley Gilbertson 1925-2009

FOSSUM, GILBERTSON, CLEVELAND

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 9/19/2009 at 19:10:10

Gaylen Hartley Gilbertson

Gaylen Hartley Gilbertson, age 84, of Mundelien, IL, formerly of Waukon, completed the course set before him by his Lord June 15, 2009. In faith he went to his eternal home to be with the Lord Jesus he loved and served.

Memorial services were held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church June 28 in Mundelein, IL. A committal service was held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.

Gaylen Hartley Gilbertson was born May 4, 1925, the second child of Arthur and Cora (Fossum) Gilbertson. June 21, 1925, he became a child of God through Holy Baptism at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waukon. Through this congregation’s ministry and the guidance of his Christian parents, Gaylen grew in his faith in Jesus as Savior, a faith he affirmed in the Rite of Confirmation October 6, 1940.

While still a student at Waukon High School, Gaylen decided to join the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving for more than three years - the last two years as an aircrewman on an Avenger torpedo bomber - based on the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Bismarck Sea in the Pacific. He had completed 19 combat missions when his ship was sunk February 21, 1945.

After surviving the sinking of his ship, Gaylen was drawn closer to the Lord, and soon after began thinking about serving in the Christian ministry. This sense of call became more clear after leaving the Navy, leading him to enroll at Luther College, Decorah, in 1946. It was while a student at Luther that Gaylen met and fell in love with Stella Cleveland. June 12, 1948 they were married and recently celebrated 61 full and wonderful years of marriage. Their union was blessed and enlivened with four much-loved children: David, Mary Beth, Suzanne and Loren.

After graduating from college, and in obedience to the call to serve in the ministry, Gaylen studied for three years at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Upon graduation and ordination, he and Stella accepted a call to missionary service with the Lutheran Church in Japan. Their service extended from 1953 to 1974, after which they served for two more years as missionaries in Papua, New Guinea.

Upon returning to the U.S., Gaylen was called to be senior pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church, Park Ridge, IL, where he served from 1978 until his retirement in 1992. Then, for four more years, he served as Assistant Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Chicago. Finally, in 1996, he and Stella began a rich and satisfying retirement in Mundelein, IL, where Gaylen was an active member of St. Andrew.

Gaylen’s passing is mourned by his beloved wife and faithful soul mate, Stella; his much-loved children, son David (and Carolee Matsumoto), daughter Mary Beth (and Mark Selbo), daughter Suzanne (and Koji Ohashi), and son Loren (and Mika Niwa); his five beloved grandchildren, Colin, Rachel, Kai, Sonia, and Niki; and his brother, Walter (wife Dorothy). In addition, he leaves many friends and partners in ministry among the Lutheran missionary family and from the churches he served.

Waukon, Iowa's newspaper, THE STANDARD, September 2, 2009. Contributor is not related and has no further information.