Donald J. Gilsdorf, 90, Verndale

July 20, 1926 - March 15, 2017

Funeral services will be Thursday, at 10:00 AM on March 23, 2017 at the VA Medical Center Chapel in St. Cloud, MN for Donald Joseph Gilsdorf, age 90 of Verndale, MN. He died on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud, MN. Chaplain Paul Anderson will officiate. Burial will be at 12 noon on March 23rd at the Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery at Camp Ripley, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the VA Chapel. Arrangements are with Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud, MN.

Don was born on July 20, 1926 on a farm near Millville, MN the son of Raymond and Hazel (Sommers) Gilsdorf. He grew up on the family farm and attended country school. He enlisted into the United State Army Air Corp on February 24, 1944. He served his country during World War II overseas at Adak Island in the Asiatic Pacific Theater of operation as a Corporal. He was honorably discharged on October 23, 1946. Upon his return he attended the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN and later transferred to North Central University also in Minneapolis where he received a degree in Ministerial Studies.

Don was a loving father, who enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, and tinkering with his many projects. Friends and family were very important to him and he will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Darlene in 2005, and three brothers, Lloyd, Leo, and Jim.

He is survived by his five children, Ben (Deb) Gilsdorf of Phoenix, AZ, Joe (Karla) Gilsdorf of Gillette, WY, Beth (Peter) Newland of Plymouth, MN, Faye (Dennis) Sewill of Andover, MN, and Judy (Kevin) Gilsdorf-Gracie of Brooklyn Park, MN, 13 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 step great-grandchildren, three brothers, Dick (Mary) Gilsdorf of Elysian, MN, Bill (Gert) Gilsdorf of Plainview, MN, and Mark (D.J.) Gilsdorf of St. Charles, IL, three sisters, Margy (Ed) Heppelman of Bellchester, MN, Marlene (Bill) Tolzman of St. Paul, MN and Linda (Gerald) Wolfe of Kellogg, MN, two sisters-in-law, Iris Gilsdorf of Pensacola, Florida, and Carol Gilsdorf of St. Paul, MN, nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.