NEW HAMPTON - Robert “Bob" Gilbert,. 74, New Hampton, died Sunday, Feb. 24 at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, MN after a lengthy illness.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, New Hampton with Rev. Carl Schmitt celebrating the mass. The pall will be placed on the casket by his wife and children. The offertory gifts will be presented by Spencer Baltes, Will Baltes and (Jrace Knutson. Lector for the service will be John Burgart. Music will be provided by Ann Bennett as organist, the St. Mary's Choir and the Immaculate Conception Men's Choir from North Washington.

Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery with Bryan Eichenberger, Bryce Eichenberger, Crystal Gilbert, Nicole Gilbert, Michael Cremer, Jacob Cremer and Clinton Baltes as pallbearers. Military Honors will be conducted by the New Hampton Fae Stine American Legion Post #38. Honorary pallbearers are Tim Riley, Vern Laures, Jim Havlik, Mickey Baltes, Laverne Roths, Jerry Meyers, Paul Schwickerath and Jim Boos Sr.

Visitation is 3-8 p.m. Friday, March 1 at Hugeback Funeral Home, New Hampton where there will be a 4 p.m. Rosary and a 7 p.m. Scripture Service.

Bob was born Sept. 25, 1927 in New Hampton, the only son of John P. and Evelyn K. (Roths) Gilbert. He attended school at St. Mary's, New Hampton and St. Boniface, Ionia. He completed high school early to join the U.S. Army on Dec. 12, 1944, where he was a Private serving as a Military Policeman. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 17, 1947. He married Evelyn Bray on Feb. 6, 1951 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Ionia. The couple lived in Charles City initially where Bob worked for Oliver Tractpr Co. and the Charles City Gamble Store. They moved to New Hampton in 1957 where Bob owned and operated the local Gambles Store until 1971. He then worked at various places in New Hampton before going to work for St. Mary's Church where he maintained the facilities and St. Mary's Cemetery until his retirement last year. He enjoyed growing roses at home ana around the church, woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn; one son, Bob (Diane) Gilbert, Mundelein, IL; four daughters, Pam (Jerry) Eichenberger, Ankeny, Theresa (Keith) Cremer, Mason City, Julie (Terry) Baltes, North Washington and Janine (Rich) Knutson, Montrose, MN; ten

Grandchildren and one sister, Bonnie (Francis) Shatek, Lourdes.

Preceding him in death were his parents; a daughter, Deborah, in 1951 and two sisters, Dorothy Ferch and Delores Burgart.

Source: New Hampton Tribune; Mar. 1, 2002 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters