Kenneth Jack Gill

Gill, Kenneth Jack Retired Judge, Hennepin County District Court. He was also the Presiding Judge of Family Court for several years. Retired Lt. Col. United States Air Force Reserve, WW II and Korean War Veteran. Born January 25, 1921, Mpls, MN, died December 28, 2005 in Santa Monica, CA. Preceded in death by his parents; brothers, LeRoy, Kermit "Art", George and his beloved wife, the former Betty J. Flodquist. Survived by his son, John, daughter- in-law Debbie and grandsons, Jeremy and Trevor of Richfield; daughter, Sharon, son-in-law Par Chadha; granddaughter, Sarah and grandson, Jito of Santa Monica, CA. Jack received his high school diploma from South High School, 1939 and was a member of the City Champion Track Club. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1946, and his Juris Doctor in 1953, both from the University of Minnesota. Jack and his identical twin Art lost their mother when they were 10 months old, after which the twins and their brothers ages 4 & 2 were moved to an orphanage where they lived for 8 years until their father remarried. Jack was always profoundly grateful for his stepmother's affection. The twins won track scholarships to the University of Minnesota where they were members of the 1940 team which won the Kansas Relays. In June of 1942, the twins enlisted in the Army. To join the Air Force, they had to get around the perfect-sight requirement, which they did by memorizing the eye chart. They were in commissioned in April of 1943 and sent to the China-Burma- India Theater where they were members of the 490th Bomber Squadron, 14th Army Air Force, also known as the "Flying Tigers" which was led by General Clare Chennault. Jack flew 13 sorties and survived a crash. By the end of WWII, the twins had each achieved the rank of Captain. While they were in India, the twins became friends with a local Oxford-educated judge who used to let them observe his court while in session. This experience convinced the twins that they should both pursue careers in law. When WWII ended they went back to the University of Minnesota where they received their law degrees. They were both called back to serve in the Korean War. Jack later became an Air Force Reservist, eventually attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. Jack married the former Betty J. Flodquist in 1949 with whom he had two children, John and Sharon. Jack practiced law for awhile and was named to the bench as a referee of Family Court. Later he was appointed to the Municipal Court by Governor Wendall Anderson; and to the District Court by Governor Rudy Perpich. Jack was the presiding judge of Family Court for many years. After he retired as Hennepin CountyDistrict Court Judge in 1991, he still continued to work full-time on a temporary basis for the courts for several years. In 1999, he began spending most of his time in Santa Monica, CA. Memorial service Friday, January 27, 11 AM at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, located in Historic Fort Snelling (Hwy 55-west of Mendota Bridge), Fort Snelling, MN. Memorial gathering 1/2 hour prior to service at Fort Snelling Chapel. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Friday, Jan. 27, 10 AM, Lane #2. Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.