Van Gilst, J. Clair 1916-1989

VAN GILST, CARY, WELCH, MEANS, DAVIS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/1/2006 at 06:19:36

J. Clair Van Gilst

KILLDUFF -- J. Clair Van Gilst, 72, of Killduff, a lifelong resident of the Killduff community, died of heart failure Wednesday afternoon, May 17, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Reese Chapel in Newton.

The Rev. Timothy Miller, pastor of Killduff United Methodist Church, will conduct services. Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery.

Masonic rites will be conducted by the Monumental Lodge 311 of Galesburg at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Reese Chapel.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m. Friday. Visitation with the family will be held following Masonic rites at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions to the Shrine Children’s Hospitals or the Killduff United Methodist Church may be left at the funeral home.

Survivors are his wife, Vera; a son Gary J. of Newton; a daughter, Serena (Mrs. Ben) Means of Newton; four grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; a step-great-grandson; and a sister, Dorothy (Mrs. Harold) Davis of Newton.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Van Gilst was a member of the Killduff United Methodist Church, Monumental Lodge 311 AF and AM of Galesburg, Za Ga Zig Shrine of Des Moines, Shrine Clowns, Jasper County Shrine Club, was a former Shrine Children’s Hospital Dad, and was a member of Chapter 100 Order of Eastern Star of Newton.

Mr. Van Gilst, a longtime owner of Van Gilst Roofing Co., was past president of the Iowa Roofing Contractors Association and a past board member of the National Roofing Contractors Association.

The son of J. John and Matilda “Tillie” Cary Van Gilst, he was born Oct. 22, 1916 on a farm near Killduff and was a 1934 graduate of Sully Community High School.

He was married to Vera V. Welch June 8, 1939, at the First Christian Church in Knoxville.

~ Newton Daily News, Newton, Iowa, May 18, 1989