James Gilbertson

James "Gil" Arthur Gilbertson, age 72, a resident of Grantsburg, WI., passed away on June 27, 2024 at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, MN.

Gil and Anita met in the fourth grade, in Hudson, WI, where they grew up. Their parents attended the same church, so they had much in common. Apparently Gil had a crush on Anita all through school, but she was unaware of that.

After graduation, Gil attended one year of college at River Falls, WI, then joined the USAF.  He served 20 years in Japan, Okinawa, Thailand, the Philippines, and South Korea. During that time, he met and married Setseku, a woman from Okinawa, whom he called Loretta.

He discharged from his last base of service, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, in Cheyenne, WY.  He and Loretta continued to live in Cheyenne until her demise in 2014.  During those years, he worked on the dock of the Cheyenne Post office.

Gil and Anita reconnected through a mutual friend, on facebook, Gil became a father, grand father, and great grandfather on September 25th, 2016, when he and Anita were wed.  Gil and Anita bought a house in Grantsburg, WI and enjoyed a wonderful life together until his untimely death. Gil loved his children and all the grands, and they all loved and enjoyed him very much as well.

Gil enjoyed hunting Mule Deer in Wyoming, and was joined on those hunting trips by his step sons, Jasen and Justin. We all share in the wonderful memories of those trips.

He loved trains, and his model train hobby kept him busy and very happy. When he was a teenager, his parents lived near the train yard in Hudson.  He liked going down there and checking things out. He started hopping train rides, like a hobo, going a few miles out of town, jumping off in an area where the train slowed down, then hopping another train to return to town. His sister, Joan, was fearing for his safety, and told his parents of his shenanigans. On one of his rides home, he had a "welcoming committee" of his parents and sister. Needless to say, that was his last time hopping trains.

Gil was a kind, thoughtful, and humble man. He and Anita had a very loving relationship and he often said that their years together were the best of his life. He was a dear man, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Predeceased by parents, Nina (Lyksett) and James Gilbertson and sister, Joan (Gilbertson) Langness.

Survived by wife:  Anita GIlbertson  of Grantsburg
Step children: Rebecca (Troy) Tulgren, Wendy Garcia, Jasen (Jennie) Jensen, and Justin (Sara) Jensen.  Sister: Julie Gilbertson, Brother-in-law, Terry Langness, Niece, Emily (Joe) Krolak, their children, April and Pete, Niece Erin (Grant) Stephens, Nephew Tom Langness, as well as 16 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, July 5, 2024 at 3:00 PM (visitation from 2-3 PM) at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Grantsburg, WI with Pastor Emory Johnson officiating with Military Honors following the service. A luncheon will follow at T-Dawgs Bar & Grill.

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.swedberg-taylor.com.