Loren 'Herb' Gilbert, 81

Loren "Herb" Gilbert, 81, passed away on June 15, 2007, at home in Sandpoint, Idaho. He was two weeks shy of his 82nd birthday.

A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on June 22, 2007, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 6th and Oak St., in Sandpoint, with Father Dennis C. Day officiating.Inurnment will be in Aurora, Ill., later this summer, after a memorial Mass there.

Herb was born June 28, 1925, to Herbert and Mai (Pell) Gilbert in Aurora. He grew up during the depression, attending Marmion Academy High School. During World War II he served in the South Pacific theater of operations with the U.S. 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 and Denver. He started there as an engineer and worked up to the position of general sales manager. He retired 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, Colo., and together they raised five children — Donna, Mike, Joyce, Bill, and Pat.

Following his retirement Herb loved to travel and lived in Loveland, and Glenwood Springs, Colo., and would winter in Texas. He loved to golf and was proud to brag about golfing every day the course was open. He moved to Sandpoint 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, M.D., of Sandpoint, Bill (Pam) Gilbert of Sandwich, Ill., Donna Vellone of Boston, Mass., Mike (Theresa) Vellone of Denver, Pat (Meg) Vellone of Denver; and 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.

Family and friends are invited to view Herb's online obituary, and sign the online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Final arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.