Gilmore R. Von Ohlen

Obituary

Gilmore Rudolph Von Ohlen was born October 1, 1936, in Alpha, Minnesota, to Rudolph and Selma (Weber) Von Ohlen and was baptized as an infant. He was the second of four children and they were all raised on a farm in Alpha.

He received his education in a rural country school through eighth grade. In 1950, he was confirmed as a Lutheran at Trinity Lutheran in Alpha. The story goes, a fellow confirmand pointed to Gil and told their relative, “I’m going to marry him someday.” That confirmand was Joanne Plath. Both of them went to Jackson High School, but their first date wasn’t until they were seniors. During high school, Gil participated in the football and baseball teams. In his senior year of football, he was the starting pulling guard and the team enjoyed an undefeated season. He was a good centerfield player as he had a strong arm. He often played townball with his older brother Eldon. He and Joanne graduated together in 1954.

After high school, Gil went to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and later transferred to Mankato State to finish his business degree. While at the U, he was a part of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps shooting team. One year, he roomed with both of his brothers, Eldon and Peter. After college, he started working at Sperry Univac in the Twin Cities in March of 1961 and later that year married Joanne on October 1 (on his birthday so he only had to remember one date). When they returned from their honeymoon in the Ozarks, they received Gil’s Army draft notice. After Gil completed bootcamp, he was stationed in Tacoma, Washington, for additional training. During his training at Fort Lewis, Washington, Gil became an excellent rifleman. He won the marksman championship for his company.

While Gil was in Fort Lewis, Joanne joined him in Washington and they welcomed their firstborn, Allan Gilmore, on July 11, 1962. Gil and Joanne met their lifelong friends Dick and Phil Beer during this time, and enjoyed many New Year’s Eves and Fourth of Julys as their families grew. They returned to Minnesota after Gil completed his training and resided in a Saint Paul apartment. They lived there for two years before purchasing their first house on Snelling Avenue in Saint Paul. On March 18, 1964, they welcomed their second son, Gary Michael. Gil supported his boys’ involvement in Cub Scouts, eventually becoming an Assistant Pack Leader. He helped Allan build a winning Pinewood Derby car. He also helped the kids with many 4-H projects over the years. Gil supported Allan’s and Gary’s athletic involvement by taking them to practices as well as attending all their games with Joanne. During a baseball season he was awarded a coaching trophy. He taught the boys how to shoot and hunt. Gil was able to consistently shoot a running deer. He and the boys enjoyed many hunting trips together. They lived in Saint Paul until 1972, when they moved to Inver Grove Heights. It was there that they got introduced to snowmobiling while it was still farm fields instead of the suburb it is today. Gil and Joanne continued residing there for 44 years.

Tragically, their son Gary was killed by a drunk driver on July 25, 1980. This was obviously devastating to Gil and the family. He made an appearance on TV supporting M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) following the accident.

In 1993, Gil and Joanne were blessed with the first of their three grandchildren. Gil was known as Papa to them. He enjoyed hearing about and spending time with the grandkids. He taught them all how to ride a bike at their home in Inver Grove. Gil was blessed to see and assist them all in graduating college, moving out, and beginning their lives as adults. He was also blessed with three great-grandchildren and knew another one was on the way.

Gil was involved in numerous Bible study groups and served various church positions at Emmanuel Lutheran for many years. Gil had always been strong in his Christian faith, being a quiet example of Christian living.

Gil’s hobbies included vegetable, fruit, and sunflower gardening, tending to the birds and vineyards, bowling and golfing, even becoming captain of his work’s golf team, reading books, as well as showing the boys how to raise farm animals on their hobby farm in Inver Grove Heights. They had horses, cows, rabbits, and chickens.

He enjoyed camping in the early days and cabin vacationing in the later years. Gil bought a cabin from his Uncle Walt in 1991. Gil really enjoyed fishing, hunting, and riding motorcycles and snowmobiles with his family and friends. He also enjoyed being Allan’s snowmobile drag racing pit crew for one year, when they won the championship in two classes in 1995. He was still riding motorcycles and snowmobiles into his early 80’s.

Gil was the go-to man for anything that needed repair for his family and friends, especially if it had an engine. After his retirement in 1996 (after 35 years at Sperry Univac) he often repaired countless lawn mowers, snowblowers, other equipment, and vehicles. Gil enjoyed talking with his family and friends, swapping adventure stories, sharing and passing down his knowledge. In 2016, Gil and Joanne moved to Hutchinson and made many new friends.

Gil peacefully passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at his home in Hutchinson, at the age of 88 years.
Blessed be his memory.

Gil is survived by his son, Allan; his grandchildren, Jennifer (David) Niemela, Connie Von Ohlen, Henry Von Ohlen; great-grandchildren, Norah, Amos, and Simon Niemela; brother Eldon (Mary Sue) Von Ohlen, brother, Peter Von Ohlen; sister-in-law, Mary Plath; brother-in-law, Mike Pajari; nieces and nephews, Teresa (Rick) Goncalves, Tonia (Scott) Grubbs, Maren Pajari-Smith, Jason Pajari, Erin Plath, Katie Plath, Andrea (Sam) Sahlin, and Wendy Corley.

Gil is preceded by his wife, Joanne; son, Gary; his parents Rudolph and Selma Von Ohlen; sister, Darla Pajari; brother-in-law, David Plath; sister-in-law, Mary Corley; daughter-in-law, Diane Von Ohlen.