Dr. Edward Gilbert, 85 died Monday, July 23, 2007 at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Red Lake Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, July 27, 2007 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Monsignor Timothy McGee presiding. Burial will follow at St. Bernards Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN. Military Honors will be provided by the American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service at church.

Edward Lester Gilbert was born April 22, 1922 at the family home in Duluth, MN the youngest of four children of Francis and Sophia (Swan) Gilbert. He was baptized and confirmed at Wesley Methodist Church in Duluth, MN. Ed attended school at Lester Park School, Monroe Elementary School, Lincoln Junior High School and graduated from Denfeld High School in 1940.

Following high school, Ed worked as an optician at Benson Optical while attending Duluth Junior College.

In 1942 he enlisted into the United States Air Force. Ed was trained in the medical corps at Santa Ana Army Air Base and served as an instructor in the medical corps in Carlsbad, NM. He was transferred to Las Vegas, NV and trained as a B-17 gunner where he was the ranking enlisted man in his crew and flight leader. He served out the rest of the war as an instructor.

On September 27, 1943 Ed was united in marriage to Walterine Chaput in Carlsbad, NM. To this union three children were born, Wayne, Allen and Mary Beth.

Following his Honorable Discharge in 1945, Ed, with the encouragement and support of his wife, enrolled in Illinois College of Optometry where he graduated in 1949. In 1950 the Gilbert family moved to Thief River Falls where Ed practiced optometry, retiring in 1988. Ed was most proud of his family and his ability to have given his patients the gift of sight.

In 1956, Ed joined the Catholic Church and was sponsored by his good friend Richard LeMoine.

Ed was a member of St. Bernards Catholic Church where he served as a lector, commentator, usher and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Elks where served as Exalted Ruler, also a member of the Lions Club, American Legion Post, and MN Optometric Association.

He enjoyed playing cards, golf, bowling, fishing, curling, and he mostly enjoyed spending time with his family.

Walterine died in 1995. He deeply inspired his family by the loving care he provided to Walterine during the final years of her life. On October 5, 1996, Ed was united in marriage to Dorothy LeMoine at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls. The couple continued to live in Thief River Falls. Dorothy was the light of his life for his last 11 years. Ed often said, I am married to the most wonderful woman in the world.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Thief River Falls, MN; three children, Wayne (Dorie) of Eagan, MN, Allen (Connie) of Spokane, WA, and Mary Beth (Paul) Kolar of Eureka, SD; 13 grandchildren, Peder, Bryan, Jon, Angie, Dan, Katie, Christie, Becky, Laura, David, Elizabeth, Theresa, and John; 6 great-grandchildren, Emma, David, Thaden, Miles, Clara, Benjamin, and Vinny; Dorothys children, Monte, Kent, Kim, Mary, Jodi, John and Stephanie; 18 grandchildren; and numerous other great-grandchildren, relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Walterine; sister, Margaret; brothers, Forest and Stuart.