Lawrence J. Gilbert

SIOUX CITY -- Lawrence J. Gilbert, 90, of Sioux City passed away Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, at a Sioux City hospital following a brief illness.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Wesley United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Nea Huggins officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel.

Lawrence "Larry" was born Feb. 14, 1920, in Cherokee, Iowa, to Benjamin and Julia (Petersen) Gilbert. He was raised in Cherokee and graduated from Meriden High School.

He married Alvina Kose and to this marriage eight children were born, Jim, Jerry, Tom, Linda, Mary Sue, Judith, Paul and Patricia. He married Lucille Less on March 14, 1959, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Three children were born to this marriage, Kathy, Robert and Annette. Lucille died Feb. 8, 1996. Larry was a salesman for several auto dealers, he owned and operated a salvage yard in South Sioux City, and he drove the Bookmobile for several years.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. Larry enjoyed golfing, fishing, playing cards and was an avid sports fan. He was always ready to start up a mean game of Euchre.

Survivors include seven children, Jerry Gilbert of El Paso, Texas, Tom Gilbert and his wife, Sharon of Ozark, Mo., Linda, Mary and Kathy Gilbert of Hawarden, Iowa, Robert Gilbert and his wife, Susie of Sioux City, and Annette Friedrichsen of Lino Lakes, Minn.; three stepchildren, Linda Johnson and her husband, Steve of New Richmond, Wis., Barb Hogan and Randy von Hagel and his wife, Zena, all of Hawarden; two sisters, Grace Kirchoff and Dorothy Clow and her husband, Bud, all of Cherokee, Iowa; 15 grandchildren, Todd Gilbert, Tom John Gilbert, Jamie von Hagel, Michael von Hagel, Aaron Johnson, Emily Meyer, Kyle Friedrichsen, Ryan Friedrichsen, Anna Friedrichsen, Connie Roseberry, Tina Pike, Matt Pike, Sarah Pike, Sean and Steven DuVall; 18 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille; his parents, Benjamin and Julia; four children, Judith, Paul, Patricia and Jim; and brothers, Gerald and Merritt.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Todd, Tom, Aaron, Jamie, Michael, Kyle, Ryan and Matt.