Obit: Gilbertson, Agnes Elizabeth #2 (1916 – 2009)

Contact: Dolores

Surnames: Gilbertson, Olson, Erickson, Marling, Medley, Schattie, Haworth

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) January 6, 2010

Gilbertson, Agnes Elizabeth (27 October 1916 – 30 December 2009)

Agnes Elizabeth (Erickson) Gilbertson, Merrillan, died peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at Black River Memorial Hospital, Black River Falls.

Agnes was born Oct. 27, 1916, in Garden Valley Township, Jackson County, to Louis and Julia (Olson) Erickson.  Her grandparents were all born in Sweden.  She attended Leverett School near Alma Center and graduated from Baraboo High School in 1935.  She then attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison while working at Manchester’s Department Store.  She also worked as a nanny for families in Baraboo and Madison, including the Marling family in Maple Bluff where she was a second mother to “her girls” Roberta and Dorothy.

She married Palmer Gilbertson Oct. 30, 1938, in Baraboo. She resided in Madison; Mount Horeb; Berwyn, IL; Janesville (1949 – 1961); Wausau (1961 – 1973); and Wauwatosa (1973 – 1986).  After Palmer’s death in 1985, she returned to Jackson County in 1986, living in Hatfield for 10 years and then in Merrillan.

She was a business woman of drive and determination. She co-owned the Zimmer House of Color, an interior decoration firm, in Wausau and set sales records when she managed the Singer Sewing Center at Capitol Court in Milwaukee.

She was very active in clubs and organizations throughout her life. She was PTA District President and on the state PTA Board while residing in Janesville and stayed active in PTA Alumni her whole life.  She lobbied the legislature for improved teacher benefits and for better student health programs.  She was active in WAHCE/Homemakers at the county and State level, including the position of west district director. 

She taught bridge classes and played in many bridge clubs.  In Jackson County, she was active in the hospital auxiliary, senior citizen groups in Merrillan and Hatfield, WAHCE, and she taught senior citizens drivers’ education classes for UW-Extension.  She received blue ribbons at the Jackson County Fair for her antiques and quilts.  In 2007, Agnes was honored as one of the Jackson County Women in History.  She had a lifelong interest in health issues, to educate everyone in healthy family living.  She wrote articles on health topics for the PTA magazine and for the State Board of Health, and she was health chairman for the State PTA and for WAHCE.

She had many interests, including gardening, bridge, sewing and quilting but her family was always first.  She was a scout leader and two of her boys became Eagle Scouts. She will be remembered far and wide for her cooking; her rolls and her Christmas cookies will be missed by many. 

Surviving her are four children, Robert (Ellen) Gilbertson of Fairfield, CT, Pauline (Peter Medley) Gilbertson of Madison, Charles Gilbertson of Huntsville, AL, and Bruce (Lisa) Gilbertson of Milwaukee; daughter-in-law, Susan Gilbertson  of Marshfield; sister, Irene Schattie of Merrillan; sister-in-law, Ionia Erickson of Stoughton; five grandchildren, David (Sabrina), Jeffrey, Timothy (Danyelle), Melissa (Justin Haworth) and Amy Gilbertson; one great-granddaughter, Betty Rose; eight beloved nieces and nephews; besides many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Palmer; her son, Gilbert; and her brothers: Adolph, Raymond and Arnold.

Funeral services for Agnes E. Gilbertson will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at the United Methodist Church in Merrillan.  Reverend Meg Erickson will officiate.  Relatives and friends may call at the church Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services.  Burial will take place Friday at 11 a.m. in the Mount Horeb Union Cemetery, Mount Horeb.

The Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home of Hixton is assisting the family with arrangements.