Vernon Morris Gilbertson

Vernon Morris Gilbertson left this life in the early morning hours of Tuesday March 18, 2025.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday March 21, 2025 at Grace Lutheran Church, rural Marshfield WI area, near Nasonville. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 9:00 am. Vernon will be laid to rest in the Grace Lutheran Cemetery where he awaits the resurrection on the last day, when all the saints will be taken to dwell in the House of The Lord Forever. Following his committal service, comrades from The American Legion Post 73 of Neillsville will bestow military honors for Mr. Gilbertson. The honor of pallbearer belongs to his grandsons.
Vernon began his life journey on April 13, 1930, in Trempealeau County, WI. He was born on his grandparents' farm, weighing about three pounds, with his first crib being a shoe box. When he was young, Vernon was nicknamed "Buddy" by his brother, who struggled to pronounce the word brother. The nickname stuck, and he was affectionately called Buddy by both family and friends. In these early days of the Great Depression times, life was a challenge for his family, and they moved around often during Vernon's youth from one farm to the next. On those many farms, young Vernon developed a talent and joy for fixing what was broken, constructing buildings, and creating things from junk.
Vernon was drafted into the US Army in 1952, for an eight-year hitch, with two years of active service. Vernon was discharged honorably in 1960 with the rank of Corporal, after serving in the 590 Engineer Battalion in Okinawa post the Korean War.
In 1955, Vernon purchased a run-down farmstead on the Wood and Clark County line with a vision of what the fixer-upper farm could be. A year later he married the love of his life, Virginia Stremikis from Tioga WI, at Grace Lutheran Church. On their small farm of 30-45 cows, Vernon and Virginia raised seven children, milked the cows, baled the hay, picked the stones, pulled the yellow rocket, and somehow still made time to serve on the church council, work on church building and maintenance projects, and take their kids for an evening swim in the pond after chores in the summer or skating on the ice in winter. Vernon enjoyed deer hunting, planting trees, four wheeling with family and friends, fishing, and an occasional trip around the United States with family in the later years. Vernon was a master joke and storyteller, and the joy on his face as he shared a good story or joke will always be remembered by his family and friends.
Vernon was the last of his family to leave life's journey. He is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Elizabeth Gilbertson; his brothers, Alvin Gilbertson and Leonord Gilbertson and his in-laws, Mary and August Stremikis. Vernon leaves behind his wife, Virginia; his sons, Larry (Diane) Gilbertson, George (Jill) Gilbertson, James (Linda) Gilbertson and his daughters, Elaine Spiegel, Linda ( Rusty) DeBroux, Carol (Randy) Krause, and Carla (Jon) Grabanski. Also to carry on, are 23 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Vernon's wish was to die on the farm and God granted that wish. So, we now commit Vernon to the soil, the land from which he was formed, the land which he tilled and cared for, the land which gives us all life. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, Vernon waits for Christ's return. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
His arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. Family and friends are encouraged to visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share wonderful memories of Vernon or to offer condolences to his family.