Gilbert Schmidgall

Funeral services for Gilbert Schmidgall of Morris, Minnesota, will be on Saturday, August 10, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at the Morris Apostolic Christian Church, rural Morris, with the Apostolic Christian Church Ministers officiating.  Visitation will be on Friday, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Morris Apostolic Christian Church Fellowship Hall and one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church.  Burial will be at the Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery, rural Morris.

Gilbert was reunited with his beloved Barbara when God called him Home on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. Gilbert had been awaiting God’s call. He passed away peacefully and fittingly in his much-loved and well-worn recliner.

Gilbert Thomas Schmidgall was born on October 30, 1929 in Hancock, Minnesota to Henry and Emma (Koehl) Schmidgall.  Gilbert grew up and attended school in Hancock. He came home on leave from the Army to marry Barbara Kepner on April 14, 1953, then took his new bride back to Texas for the remainder of his service to his country. Gilbert had many fond memories and stories about those early years in Texas, where he and Barbara formed lifelong friendships.

Gilbert worked in the concrete business for over 50 years in Montevideo, Morris and Hancock, and he served the Morris community for 39 years on the fire department and the ambulance service. The scanner was always on in Gilbert’s home, and he was always there to help in times of need. Gilbert loved to travel, and he and Barb (and often, Dotsy) travelled throughout the United States and Canada, each time coming home with many stories, laughs, and photos. Gilbert also loved puzzles, especially during the winter months, and he enjoyed fishing and his annual deer hunting trips. Most of all, he loved singing and going to church.

Gilbert had a profound and abiding faith, and he also cared deeply for his family and friends. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Gilbert’s heart was as big as his legendary hands and feet! In addition to his family and many dear friends, Gilbert very much appreciated his church family, especially in these last eleven months since Barbara’s death. He treasured every visit and loved every visitor. Gilbert’s sense of humor and story-telling was well-known and he was often the life of the party, at gatherings of family or friends, and, in recent months, at the many activities he enjoyed at West Wind Village.

Left to cherish Gilbert’s memory are his children, Steven Thomas (Deb Wensman), Golden Valley, Susan (Paul Steigerwald), Spicer, and Jim, Morris; grandchildren, Emma Rose (Shachar Raindel) Schmidgall and Christina Mae Radomski, and great grandson Leo Thomas Raindel; siblings Hartzell Schmidgall and Darlene (Dotsy) Carlton; and many beloved nieces and nephews and dear friends. Gilbert was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, infant daughter, Sharon Lois, his grandson-in-law Michael Radomski, and his brothers and sisters Wayne, Francis (Shorty), Gladys, Stella, Richard, Donald, and Gene.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of arrangements for Gilbert.