Loren Gilbert

Loren “Herb” Gilbert, 81, passed away on June 15, 2007 at home in Sandpoint, ID. He was 2 weeks shy of his 82nd birthday. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, June 22, 2007 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 6th and Oak St., in Sandpoint, Idaho with Father Dennis C. Day officiating. A Memorial Mass will also be held at 10:00am, Saturday, September 1, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Aurora, Illinois with interment to follow in the Church Cemetery. Herb was born June 28, 1925 to Herbert and Mai (Pell) Gilbert in Aurora, IL. He grew up during the depression, attending Marmion Academy High School. During WW II he served in the South pacific Theatre of Operations with the US Army in the bridge building battalion. After the war he graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in civil engineering. He married Charlotte Kelley on March 31, 1951. He worked for the Barber-Greene Company based out of Aurora, IL and Denver CO. He started there as an engineer and worked up to the position of General Sales Manager, prior to retiring in 1980, Herb and Charlotte had two children, Joyce and Bill, prior to Charlotte’s untimely death from complications of childbearing in 1958. Herb married Bernice (Montana) Vellone in 1960 in Denver, CO and together they raised 5 children – Donna, Mike, Joyce, Bill, and Pat. Following his retirement Herb loved to travel and lived in Loveland, and Glenwood Springs, CO and would winter in Texas. He loved to Golf and was proud to brag about golfing every day that the course was open. He moved to Sandpoint, ID in 1999 to be closer to his daughter as his health began to fail. He was known as “Grandpa” to many and continued to enjoy his golf game and his family. Herb is survived by his children – Joyce Gilbert MD of Sandpoint, ID; Bill (Pam) Gilbert of Sandwich, IL; Donna Vellone of Boston, MA; Mike (Theresa) Vellone of Denver, CO; and Pat (Meg) Vellone of Denver, CO; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. His parents, his siblings Nanojean, Glenn, and Paul and his wife Charlotte preceded him in death. He lived a full and long life and will be missed by many.