Gehl, Mathilda

Mathilda married Gilsdorf, Othmar Conrad Aft 1920. Othmar (son of Gilsdorf, Henry and Zimmerman, Katharina) was born 20 Jan 1896; died 6 Feb 1986. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Religious Vows: Aft 1930
• Ordained: 11 Jun 1949
• Stationed at: Bef 1953, Holy Cross Catholic Church, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA; Assistant Pastor
• Book: Abt 1960; Centennial History of St. Nicholas Freedom (Author)
• Obituary: 16 Oct 2014; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
The Reverend Gordon J. Gilsdorf, age 89, entered eternal life on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, after residing at St. Paul Home in Kaukauna. With faith in Christ and supported by his loving family and friends, he nobly endured the debilitating effects of a stroke.
Father Gilsdorf was born March 23, 1925, in Sheboygan to Othmar and Matilda (Gehl) Gilsdorf. He received his primary education at Sacred Heart School in Sherwood, attended high school and junior college at Mt. Calvary, studied philosophy and theology at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, and did advanced summer studies at St. Norbert College, Marquette University and Loras College in Dubuque, IA. In 1960, he earned a masters degree in English from Marquette University and did further studies in journalism and drama at Marquette. Fr. Gordon was ordained a priest by Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona on June 11, 1949. His ministerial appointments were assistant pastor at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay and Holy Cross, Kaukauna. In 1953, he was appointed to the faculty at the newly founded Sacred Heart Seminary in Oneida and served as its first spiritual director. During those years, Fr. Gilsdorf served as vice-rector, was elected president of the Priests' Senate, and was a member of the Diocesan Board of Consultors. In 1976, Fr. Gordon became a member of the faculty at St. Joseph Academy in Green Bay until its closing in 1990 after which he became a member of the faculty at Notre Dame de la Baie Academy where he served until his illness in December of 2011.
Fr. Gilsdorf was a priest, poet, and faculty member who mentored thousands upon thousands of students. As priest he celebrated the sacraments and preached God's word at the seminary and in many parishes, especially at St. Nicholas in Freedom, St. Pius in Little Suamico, and St. Benedict in Suamico. As a poet and author, Fr. Gordon penned three books of poetry. In collaboration with Fr. William Zimmer, the "History of the Diocese of Green Bay" was published in 1968, the centennial of the Diocese. Fr. Gilsdorf also authored a centennial history of St. Nicholas Parish, Freedom in 1960. As a teacher, Fr. Gordon was a master. Over the years he was recognized for ability in teaching his students to write. In 1996, the governor of the State of Wisconsin named him Teacher of the Year. In April of 2010, Fr. Gilsdorf received the National Catholic Educational Association Secondary Education Award. As priest, poet, and teacher, Fr. Gilsdorf demonstrated that he was a good steward of God's many gifts.
When asked about his life and ministry, Fr. Gordon commented: "I am never happier nor more fulfilled than in the classroom, except perhaps in the pulpit or at the altar. These are uncomplicated spots, places where I often feel I am where God wanted me to be. What more could one ask of his life!" And, as for the bottom line of the meaning of life, the last stanza in Fr. Gilsdorf's "Lyrics for the Christian" reads: "I searched / God's lexicon / To fathom 'Bethlehem' / and 'Calvary.' It simply said: / See 'Love.'" Fr. Gilsdorf knew that love is the beginning and end of our lives.
Fr. Gordon is survived by a brother and a sister: Richard (Lucy) Gilsdorf, Charlesburg, and Sister Marita Gilsdorf, ANG, Sherwood, who was Fr. Gordon's primary and loving care-giver. He is further survived by fourteen nephews and nieces and many grand-nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, David and Fr. Daniel, by two sisters-in-law, Jean (Richard) Gilsdorf and Bernetta (David) Gilsdorf, as well as a nephew, Tom Gilsdorf and a niece, Marian Gilsdorf.
Reception of the body by the Regional Vicar, Rev. Richard Klingeisen will take place at 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 108 S. Sixth St. in Hilbert, WI. The Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m. The visitation will continue on Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. The Funeral Liturgy, expressing our faith and hope in the promised glory of the Lord's Resurrection will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Bishop Robert Morneau will be the celebrant and Bishop Robert Banks will concelebrate. Entombment will be in the Allouez Chapel Mausoleum.
Blaney Funeral Home is assisting the family. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established to benefit Notre Dame de la Baie Academy.
A special thank you is extended to the staff of St. Paul's Home for their loving care of Father during his three years in Kaukauna.

Other Events:

• Military Service: Aft 1944; WWII, US Navy
• Obituary: 7 Jan 2015; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
Richard Gilsdorf was born on September 23, 1926 and passed away on January 3, 2015 at the age of 88. He was united in marriage to Lucy Schipper on November 9, 1985 at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Richard served in the United States Army during WWII from 1945-1947 on the island of Okinawa. During his working years he was employed at the Kohler Company for 41 years and owned Dick's Decorating for over 50 years. He was also active in the Boy Scouts and the Lion's Club in Sheboygan Falls.
Richard is survived by his wife of 29 years, Lucy; children, Gerard "Gary" (Linda), John (Karen), Michael (Lori) Schipper, Robert (Alice) Schipper, Jenny Schipper (fiance Mitchell Meyer); 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and sister, Sister Marita Gilsdorf. He is proceeded in death by his first wife, Jean; children, Judith, Thomas, Marian; parents, Othmarand Matilda and brothers, Father Gordon, Father Daniel and David (Bernetta).
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 327 Giddings Ave., Sheboygan Falls, on Saturday, January 10th, 2015 at 10:00 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Chilton Care Center and Heartland Hospice.

Richard married Unknown, Jean Aft 1944. Jean died Bef 2015. [Group Sheet]

David married Rieth, Bernetta 17 Jun 1953. Bernetta (daughter of Rieth, Clemens and Woelfel, Barbara) was born 24 Sep 1934, New Holstein, Calumet, Wisconsin, USA; died 30 Mar 2010. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Religious Vows: Abt 1954
• Ordained: 11 Jun 1960
• Obituary: 8 May 2012; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
Gilsdorf, Fr. Daniel C. The Reverend Daniel C. Gilsdorf, age 77, entered eternal life on May 7, 2012 at St. Paul Hospice Care in Kaukauna. With faith in his Lord and savior he walked hand in hand with his friend, Jesus, through his struggle with lung cancer. Father Gilsdorf was born May 20, 1934 on a small farm in the Hilbert area to Othmar and Matilda (Gehl) Gilsdorf. He took his primary education at Sacred Heart School in Sherwood. In 1948 he entered Salvatorian Seminary, St. Nazianz where he took his high school and junior college classes. In 1954 he entered the philosophy house of St. Mary Seminary on Paca Street, Baltimore, MD where he entered the theology house of St. Mary Seminary and University in the Roland Park area of Baltimore where he received his four years of theological studies. Father Gilsdorf was ordained on June 11, 1960 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay, by Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona. He was immediately given a temporary assignment to St. Anthony parish, Oconto Falls. In September of that same year he was appointed assistant pastor of Most Precious Blood parish, New London where he served until December, 1963, when he was assigned to Sacred Heart parish, Manitowoc as assistant pastor. In October, 1970, he was named temporary administrator of St. Joseph parish, Sturgeon Bay, and in December was named pastor of the parish. While there he oversaw the renovation of the parish church and social hall. He also oversaw the construction of a chapel at St. Joseph Cemetery and directed the construction of a Mausoleum at the cemetery where his body will be entombed. In October, 1986, he was named pastor of St. Therese Parish, Appleton. Again he oversaw the renovation of the parish church. He was instrumental in the formation of the Appleton Catholic educational System. In 2001 he invited and welcomed the Hispanic Community of the Fox Valley to St. Therese Parish. He took a leave of absence in 2002 and retired in 2004. Always aware that he was called to serve the wider church than just the parish, Father served on a number of committees. He was elected by his fellow priests and appointed by Bishop Wycislo to the first presbyteral council, then known as the priests' Senate. In that capacity he twice represented the Green Bay Council at the national conventions of the National Federation of Priests' Councils, first in San Diego, CA and then in Baltimore, MD. He was again elected by his fellow priests and appointed by Bishop Maida as Vicar of Vicariate VII. He was appointed by Bishop Banks to serve one term on the Priests' Personnel Board. He also served twenty-four years on the board of directors of the Leo Benevolent Association, twenty-three of them as secretary. He also served on a number of lesser committees. Father Gilsdorf was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, St. Aloysius court, Hilbert, and was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Father Henry Pfeifer assembly, Sturgeon Bay. Father Dan was an avid fisherman and deer hunter, both with bow and arrow and gun. For more than forty years he was a member of the Omar Hunting Club, a camp consisting of all priests, located in the Manitowish Waters/Mercer area. He was a member of Whitetails Unlimited and Wisconsin Bow hunters. From his youth he was a stamp collector and was a member of the American Philatelic Society. He is survived by two brothers and a sister: Rev. Gordon Gilsdorf, St. Paul Home, Kaukauna, Richard (Lucy) Gilsdorf, Sheboygan, and Sister Marita Gilsdorf, ANG, Sherwood. He is further survived by fourteen nephews and nieces and many grand-nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, by a brother, David, by two sisters-in-law, Jean (Richard) Gilsdorf and Bernetta (David) Gilsdorf, as well as a nephew, Tom Gilsdorf and a niece, Marian Gilsdorf. Reception of the body by the Regional Vicar, Reverend Richard Klingeisen, will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at Sacred Heart Church in Sherwood. Visitation will continue until 8:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. led by Father Michael Betley and Father Kenneth Frozena. Visitation will continue on Thursday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The Funeral Liturgy, expressing our faith and our hope in the promised glory of the Lord's Resurrection, will take place on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Sacred Heart Church in Sherwood at 11:00 a.m., with Bishop David Ricken, Celebrant, and Father Richard Allen, Homilist. Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Cemetery, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the benefit of Appleton Catholic Education System and Xavier High School. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Misty Johnson, Dr. Kevin Mortara, and the staff at St. Paul Hospice for the compassionate care shown to Father Dan. Also a special thanks to the wonderful neighbors at Sherwood Forest.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent from May 8 to May 9, 2012