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William A. “Bill” Gilgen, 86

William A. “Bill” Gilgen, 86, of Marshalltown, IA passed away Saturday, April 22, 2017, at Hawkeye Care Center, in Marshalltown. Private services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Anderson Funeral Homes, 405 W. Main St., Marshalltown.

Bill was born April 18, 1931, to William A. and Beatrice (Byerly) Gilgen Sr. in State Center, IA. He grew up in Melbourne and graduated from Melbourne High School in 1949. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951 and was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY until being sent to Korea in 1952 where he was a squad leader for the 1092nd Engineer Combat Battalion.

Bill was united in marriage to Beth Gallentine on December 15, 1951, in Springfield, TN. Upon returning from Korea, Bill and Beth made their home in Washington St. until his discharge from the service. They then returned to Iowa for a short time before moving to California, where Bill worked in construction. The family returned to Iowa in 1971 where Bill was employed by RD Stewart Co., until his retirement in 1996. At the time of his retirement, he was a project superintendent. Bill and Beth enjoyed spending winters in Cary, NC near family, and summers in Iowa near family. Bill and Beth loved exploring small towns in Iowa, often where he had worked building schools, churches and other buildings.

Bill will be missed by his wife, Beth; four sons: Randy (Ruth) Gilgen and Barry (Karen) Gilgen, of Marshalltown, David (Laura) Gilgen, of Raleigh, NC, Gavin Gilgen, of Durham, NC; seven grandchildren: Amy (Dan) Schuerman, Matthew, Klye, Britta, Rebecca, Skylar and Ally Gilgen and great grandson Wesley Phipps.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters’ Ruth Fettkether, Margarite Westphal and Jeanne Bernard.

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