Dellar GILBERTSON

Notes:

Dellar “Del” L. Gilbertson, 92, Weston, passed away March 8, 2022, at Renaissance Assisted Living under the care of Interim Hospice Care.

He was born December 24, 1929, in Wausau to the late Albin and Ramona (Hoerter) Gilbertson. On July 8, 1950, he was united in marriage to Jeanette “Jan” Empey at St. Paul’s U.C.C. in Wausau. Together, they shared 71+ wonderful years of marriage; raising their family and enjoying all life had to offer.

He began his 32-year career with the Wausau Police Department in 1952, and in 1963 was promoted to desk sergeant. He was a 1966 graduate of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute. In 1972, he was advanced to Traffic Sergeant, supervising the Traffic Division, and served as Secretary of the Wausau Traffic and Parking Commission. During his 12-year tenure in that office, he was dedicated in promoting traffic, pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle safety; receiving recognition every year, including the Grand Award from AAA in 1980 for being the safest city in the United States for cities of comparable size. He made numerous trips to Madison with city officials to accept these awards and was proud of achieving these honors. Del was on the departments’ pistol team competing in matches throughout the state, and in 1961 the four-member team won the W.P.P.A. class C state championship in Kenosha. In 1960, he was instrumental in organizing the Wausau City Employees Credit Union; serving as secretary for two years. In 1962, he was elected president and held that office for four years.

After retiring in 1984, his long-time friend, Charles Helke, offered him a full-time position at the Helke Funeral Home. He was employed there for ten years.

In 1994, he and Jan sought warmer temperatures, so they moved to their dream home in Sun City, Arizona, where they resided for 19 years. During those years, they traveled extensively throughout the United States and eighteen foreign countries. Del enjoyed golfing and had the privilege of working as a Marshall for ten years at the Annual Phoenix Open in Scottsdale.

He was a member of Sun City Masonic Lodge #72, El Zaribah Shrine, Sun Cities Shrine Club (serving as president in 2003), and the Sun Cities Scottish Rite Club. He and Jan were actively involved in the annual Clothe-A-Child program during the Christmas season.

In 2011, they moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to their family. He reinstated his membership with Forest Lodge #130, F. & A. M. in Wausau. He was a 32nd degree Master Mason, longtime member of Zor Shrine in Madison, and in 1987 was chosen to serve a one-year term as Outer Guard on the Zor Shrine Divan. He was a lifetime member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Eau Claire Valley, where he was a Past Most Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix and was active in degree work each spring and fall. Del worked diligently to support the Shrine Hospitals; transporting children and their families to and from the Shrine Hospital in Minneapolis.

He was a member of Wausau Elk’s Lodge #248, and also Lodge #2559 while residing in Sun City.

Survivors include three daughters, Sandra (Dean) Ostrander, Kaukauna, Mary Zelton (Brad Main) Tomahawk, Cheryl Traska, Tomahawk; a son, Michael (Danette) Gilbertson of Weston; thirteen grandchildren, Matthew (Elisabeth), Bradley (Melissa), and Catherine Ostrander, Dr. Kimberly, Alison, and James Zelton, Jamie (Steve) Howe, Travis (Jenn) Traska, Stephanie (Brett) Borneman, Gretchen Krueger, Lucas Gilbertson (Sarah Elliott), Shanon (Mitch) Feltz, and Jarett (Melissa) Gilbertson; eleven great-grandchildren, Ryan Ostrander, Kali, Dawson, and Marli Traska, Onnika Honeck, Jason, Logan, and Isabella Borneman, Alyce and Margaret Feltz, and Gavin Gilbertson. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, a sister, Bonnie, and loving son, Patrick.

His family meant more to him than anything else in the world and he was so proud of the close bond and love that existed. They never greeted or parted without expressing their love for one another.

Dellar married Jeanette Marie EMPEY on 8 Jul 1950 in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Patrick A GILBERTSON was born on 12 Apr 1957 in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin; died on 1 May 2015 in Marathon County, Wisconsin.

Notes:

Single, living with his parents, and working at the sash and door factory at the time of the 1920 census.

Living in Wausau with his wife of two years, Margaret (b. ca 1908), at the time of the 1930 census. No children.

In the 1940 census, he and his wife Ramona and their son Dellar, live at 631-½ South 4th Avenue in Wausau. Albin is a barber and made $1935 in 1939. Albin and his wife have 8th grade educations.

In the 1950 census, he and his wife Ramona and their son Dellar, 20, live in Wausau. Albin is a liner at a woodwork manufacturer. Dellar is a sales clerk for an auto supply store.

Albin married Ramona HOERTER. Ramona was born on 7 Oct 1904; died in Apr 1985 in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Last name from Pat Gilbertson’s obit.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Carpenter, cabinetmaker

Notes:

In the 1900 census, Anton was a 27 year-old single man, boarding with a family in Wausau. He was a laborer and had come to the U.S. in 1892.

In the 1905 state census, the family lived in the 9th ward of Wausau in a house that Anton owns, without mortgage. The household consists of Anton, 32, day laborer, Dena, 27, Alice G., 2, and Albin D., 1. Also living with them is Della Williams, 11, boarder.

The family lived at 108 5th Avenue South in Wausau in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses.

In the 1930 census, the four younger children are still at home.

An Ancestry tree incorrectly has Anton born (as Gudbrandsen) on 25 Jan 1872 and dying in Wausau on April 8, 1930. The 1930 census was taken on April 8th for the Gilbertsons. In that census, Anton has no occupation.

In the 1940 census, Anton, Dena, and Gladys live at 108 5th Avenue S in Wausau, the same house in which they had lived in 1930. The house is worth $3000. Anton and Dena had 8th grade educations. Roger and Lorraine Gilbertson live at 108½.

His obit noted that he was survived by three brothers: Hans in Norway, Gustav in Iola, and Andrew in Wausau.

Birth:
according to his obit

Anton married Dena E LARSON on 26 Sep 1901 in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Dena (daughter of August LARSON and Anne WILLIAMSON) was born about 1878 in Wisconsin; died on 29 Jun 1949 in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin; was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Dress Maker

Notes:

Still single and living at home with her mother and siblings in the 1900 census.

In the 1910 census she is shown (erroneously) as having had three children, three still living.

Notes:

Married:
Wisconsin Marriages 1836-1930 has the date as 18 Sep 1901.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Carpenter

Notes:

In the 1870 census, he was a 33 year-old single man boarding with the John Peterson family in Scandinavia Twp, Waupaca County. He was a worker in a saw mill, probably Peterson’s saw mill.

In the 1880 census he and his family lived in the town of Weston. He was a carpenter.

In the 1895 state census, for the August Larson family living in the fifth ward of Wausau, the household consisted of 3 males and 4 females. Five of the seven were born in the U.S., the other two in Scandinavia. Thus, Elwin was dead at the time of the 1895 census but August was still alive.

Died:
he was alive at the time of the 1895 state census

August married Anne WILLIAMSON on 18 Mar 1872 in Scandinavia Lutheran Church, Scandinavia Twp, Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Anne (daughter of Ove Vilhjelmsson /WILLIAMS WILLIAMSON (BAGGETHUN) and Anne Andersdatter KJØS) was born on 26 Sep 1844 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died before 1910. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 29 Oct 1844, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway

Notes:

Shown in the Vang 1835-1892 birth record as illegitimate.

Widowed and living with her five living children at 132 6th Avenue North in Wausau in the 1900 census. Shown as having had 9 children, 5 still living.

Called Anna Katherine Larson in her son Odin’s marriage record.

Listed in the 1905 state census as living with her son Odin and his wife and infant son in the 9th ward of Wausau.