Ellen Gilbertson passed away in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on May 10, 2006, six days after her 81st birthday.\r\nEllen and her twin sister, Eileen, were born to Evelyn (Evie) and Joseph (Mike) Michaelson on May 4, 1925. She lived with her family at 425 Vine Street in Eau Claire until she married.\r\nEllen was a graduate of Eau Claire High School's class of 1942. She was a Flag Twirler and played the violin in the high school orchestra.\r\nShe married the love of her life, Roger A. Gilbertson, August 26, 1944. From the time she met Roger "Gimo" to the time of her death, she never failed to run for her lipstick and perfume when she heard him coming up the driveway. Their daughter, Cheryl, was born on January 31, 1946. The family grew to four when son, Terry, was born on November 2, 1949. Jody joined the Gilbertson family in 1958.\r\nEllen and Roger raised their family in Menomonie, Wisconsin where Rog worked for Wisconsin Bell and Ellen was a "stay at home Mom." She was a Mom Extraordinaire who put her husband, children, and Mom and Dad before herself. She volunteered as a Den Mother, Brownie Leader, sewed majorette outfits, taught Sunday School at Our Savior's Lutheran Church and welcomed every kid in "Hoot and Holler" into her home. When she became a Grandmother to Lisa, Chad, David, Brian, DJ, and Suzanne she became the Grandmother Extraordinaire! Needless to say, she followed suit when her Great Grandchildren, Erica, Chelsea, Martin, Danielle, Emily, and Ashton joined the family.\r\nShe had a zillion friends who included high school pals, neighbors, and sorority sisters in Menomonie and Eau Claire. Her Sisters-In-Law were her dear and wonderful buddies, allies, and occasionally "Partners-In-Crime." They shared hundreds of hours of laughter and fun. Their shopping trips to the Twin Cities while the "guys went hunting" were monumental moments of joy and camaraderie. She adored her Brothers-In-Law, Daughter-In-Law, her cousins and many nieces and nephews. Ellen loved her family!\r\nEllen was fun loving, energetic, kind, and as pretty as a picture from the time of her birth to the time of her very peaceful death. We, her survivors, Roger Gilbertson, Cheryl Gilbertson-Merrill, Terry Gilbertson and Mary, Lisa Merrill-Pelnar and Jason, Chad Merrill and Michelle, David Gilbertson, Brian Gilbertson, DJ and Kelly Pophal and Suzanne and Jeremy Crawell, Ione and Everett Baker, Edith Gilbertson, Yvonne Howell, Donald Brunn, Great-grandchildren, loving nieces and nephews and many friends will miss her every day.\r\nWe celebrate her reunion with her Mom and Dad, Sister Eileen, George and Johanna, Renie and Vern, Howie, Elmer and Marge, Les and Lorraine, Gerry and Gale, Otelia, Harold, Helen, Gladys, George, Roy, Harvey, Art, Norma&Stan, Peggy and Steve and Budge and many other friends and family who welcome her with open arms. \r\nSee you in Heaven, Mom!\r\nFuneral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 15, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire with Pastor Andrew Hinwood officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Monday at church.

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