Montour, Gilbert Ernest Col. 1919 - 1995

MONTOUR, PENCHOFF, LANGE, HUNTER, LEIGH

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 7/11/2014 at 16:42:25

Cedar Rapids Gazette, Wed., 5 July 1995. Condensed from a longer obituary.

St. Olaf-- Retired U.S.A.F. Col. Gilbert Ernest Montour, 76, was dead on arrival Sunday, July 2, 1995, at Central Community Hospital, Elkader, after a sudden illness. Services: Today at Leonard-Witt Funeral Home, Elkader. Burial: Pleasant Grove Cemetery, McGregor.

Survivors include his wife, Charlotte; two sons, Gregory of Des Moines and Robert of Cedar Rapids; two grandsons, Garrett and Grant, both of Des Moines; and a great-granddaughter, Jaclyn Leigh.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister LaRayne Montour Penchoff.

Born March 30, 1919, in Marquette, to Alvin A. and Meta Lange Montour, he moved with his parents to St. Olaf in 1936 and has resided there since. Gilbert graduated from Elkader High School, Elkader Junior College and attended the University of Iowa. He entered the Army Air Corps in June 1941 and was commissioned in February 1942. On February 6, 1942, he married Charlotte Hunter. He was shot down over North Africa in April 1943, was captured by German Forces and was a prisoner of war in Germany until June 1945.

After the war he returned to the University of Iowa and earned B.A. and J.D. degrees. He spent a Year assisting his father at the National Yeast Co. in St. Olaf, then entered the Air Force as a legal officer.

(There followed a long listing of bases where he served and medals awarded him.)

Gilbert retired to St. Olaf in July 1971. He was a member of Norway Lutheran Church, Masons and Consistory.

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Submitter is not related.

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