1923
Donald
2015
Donald L. Gillaspey
May 5, 1923 — July 25, 2015
Donald Lloyd Gillaspey, 92, of Fergus Falls, passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls.
Donald was born in Tenney, Minnesota in Wilkin County on May 5, 1923, the youngest of five children born to Charles and Lillian (Heron) Gillaspey. He attended rural elementary school in Tenney and Nashua. He was baptized and confirmed at Bagstevold Church in Erhard. In 1942, he graduated from High School in Tintah. Don served in the Navy during World War II, serving on board, the USS Upshur. He was discharged in December 1945.
On May 2, 1944, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Albert in Campbell. After he returned from the service, they lived and worked in Minneapolis for a few years, and during that time, he attended trade school. In 1949, the couple bought a farm in Maplewood Township, near Erhard. In 1953, he entered the construction trade. His work took them to many different construction sites in Minnesota and also in Florida. In 1986, he retired and they moved to Fergus Falls and then to Pelican Rapids.
He lived in the Minnesota Veterans Home since 2010 where he received good care and was loved by everyone. During his time at the Vets home he spent many hours wood working and selling his crafts even up to his last week.
Don was a very devoted family man and was very proud of his sons and their families. He took great pride in his home. His hobbies included gardening, flowers, reading, hunting and especially fishing. It was with great pleasure that he would give his friends packages of carefully cleaned, fresh, frozen fish.
He was an active member of Maplewood Lutheran Church, in Maplewood State Park, near Erhard and was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post #612 of Fergus Falls.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Evelyn in 2011; two brothers, Marvin and Lester; two sisters, Violet and Grace; a brother-in-law, Byron Kottke; a sister-in-law, Esmer; and a special niece, Kathy Sheridan; a great-nephew, Matt Sheridan.
He is survived by his two sons, David (Ruby) Gillaspey of Pelican Rapids and Shawn (Shelley) Gillaspey of Sitka, Alaksa; seven grandchildren, Wade Gillaspey of Pelican Rapids, Jenny (Dan) Satter of Rogers, Jody (Dave) Reynolds of Rogers, Jessica Marie (Jason) Dunn of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Krysta (Lucas) Hulne of Moorhead, Jessica Lynn (Richie Whitson) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Lillian Gillaspey of Sitka, Alaska; 11 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and many special people who always greeted him as Grandpa Don.
Visitation: 11:30 AM-1:00 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at Grace Lutheran Church in Erhard
Service: 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at Grace Lutheran Chruch in Erhard
Clergy: Reverend Brad Soenksen
Interment: Maplewood Lutheran Cemetery, rural Erhard
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Donald was born in Tenney, Minnesota in Wilkin County on May 5, 1923, the youngest of five children born to Charles and Lillian (Heron) Gillaspey. He attended rural elementary school in Tenney and Nashua. He was baptized and confirmed at Bagstevold Church in Erhard. In 1942, he graduated from High School in Tintah. Don served in the Navy during World War II, serving on board, the USS Upshur. He was discharged in December 1945.
On May 2, 1944, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Albert in Campbell. After he returned from the service, they lived and worked in Minneapolis for a few years, and during that time, he attended trade school. In 1949, the couple bought a farm in Maplewood Township, near Erhard. In 1953, he entered the construction trade. His work took them to many different construction sites in Minnesota and also in Florida. In 1986, he retired and they moved to Fergus Falls and then to Pelican Rapids.
He lived in the Minnesota Veterans Home since 2010 where he received good care and was loved by everyone. During his time at the Vets home he spent many hours wood working and selling his crafts even up to his last week.
Don was a very devoted family man and was very proud of his sons and their families. He took great pride in his home. His hobbies included gardening, flowers, reading, hunting and especially fishing. It was with great pleasure that he would give his friends packages of carefully cleaned, fresh, frozen fish.
He was an active member of Maplewood Lutheran Church, in Maplewood State Park, near Erhard and was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post #612 of Fergus Falls.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Evelyn in 2011; two brothers, Marvin and Lester; two sisters, Violet and Grace; a brother-in-law, Byron Kottke; a sister-in-law, Esmer; and a special niece, Kathy Sheridan; a great-nephew, Matt Sheridan.
He is survived by his two sons, David (Ruby) Gillaspey of Pelican Rapids and Shawn (Shelley) Gillaspey of Sitka, Alaksa; seven grandchildren, Wade Gillaspey of Pelican Rapids, Jenny (Dan) Satter of Rogers, Jody (Dave) Reynolds of Rogers, Jessica Marie (Jason) Dunn of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Krysta (Lucas) Hulne of Moorhead, Jessica Lynn (Richie Whitson) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Lillian Gillaspey of Sitka, Alaska; 11 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and many special people who always greeted him as Grandpa Don.
Visitation: 11:30 AM-1:00 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at Grace Lutheran Church in Erhard
Service: 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at Grace Lutheran Chruch in Erhard
Clergy: Reverend Brad Soenksen
Interment: Maplewood Lutheran Cemetery, rural Erhard
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald L. Gillaspey, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Saturday, August 8, 2015
11:30am - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
Grace Lutheran Church
Memorial Service
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
Grace Lutheran Church
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