Herman ?Dee? Gilbert, 93, died on
August 22, 2022, at Bethesda Home in Goessel, Kansas.
He was born June 19, 1929, in El Reno,
Oklahoma, the son of James and Mary (Matchett) Gilbert.
At the age of 21, Dee was enlisted in
the United States Army where he quickly earned the ranking of
corporal. He was honorably discharged from his duty in September of
1953.
On June 26, 1962, Dee was united in
marriage to Betty Shaft. The couple were married for 54 years at the
time of Betty?s passing in 2016. Dee and Betty lived in El Dorado
until they made the move to Newton in 1982.
For over 30 years Dee worked as a pipe
fitter for local union 171 out of Wichita, Kansas, retiring in 1996.
Dee was a member of the Elk Lodge,
Optimists, American Legion and the First Presbyterian Church in
Newton.
Dee, affectionately known as ?Charlie?
by Betty, could often be found spending time with his fur babies
Blossom, Rosebud and Samantha, or caring for the birds that would
visit his yard. He enjoyed looking at and admiring different designs
and architecture. Dee?s favorite thing of all was time spent
traveling, his favorite trips being those that he and Betty would
take to Nevada. He also enjoyed spending spring breaks going to
concerts and riding around town in his MG convertible with his great
nephew Ryan Steele.
Dee is survived by his niece, Michelle
Steele of Stillwater, Oklahoma; nephews, Chris Gilbert of Lee?s
Summit, Missouri, Norman Gilbert of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, Mark
Shaft of Kansas City, Missouri, and Steve Shaft of Prairie Village,
Kansas; great-nephew, Ryan Steele and wife Kristel, and their two
children, Savannah and Sawyer Steele; loving friends, Sue Ice, David
and Lori Yoder, their children and grandchildren, and best friend
Frank Adame and family; and many other dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife,
Betty Gilbert; parents, James and Mary Gilbert; brothers, James and
Melvin Gilbert; and sisters, Mildred Forbes and Lillian Greenway.
A memorial service will be at 11:00
a.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N.
Main St., in Newton, Kansas. Lunch and fellowship at Charlie?s will
follow the memorial service. Inurnment will take place the morning of
the service at 9:30 a.m. at Prairie Grove Cemetery in Cottonwood
Falls, Kansas.
