1929
William
2013
William 'Jeff' Gilkeson
June 23, 1929 — January 13, 2013
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William Jefferson (Jeff) Gilkeson, 83, of Harrisonville, MO, passed away January 13, 2013 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO after complications from a broken hip.
Jeff was born on June 23, 1929 on the family farm west of Garden City to Franklin Harrison and Ellen (Veach) Gilkeson. He was one of seven children. When Jeff was 2-years-old, his mother passed away. At that time his younger brother, Clarence, who was four months old, went to live with his grandparents in Strasburg, MO. However, his father felt Jeff should stay in the family home and and was taken care of by older sisters, Dorothy and Roberta. It was a common sight back then to see Jeff following his father around the farm as he did his chores.
Jeff attended Sugar Creek School and graduated from Garden City High School. He served in the US Army from 1946-1948. He was at Fort Lewis, Washington, and then in Japan. He started work for General Motors in 1949 and worked there for 15 years. He later worked for UMKC for a year and then Rutledge Oil Company for several years. He moved to Monica, Il, where he lived and worked on his brother Don’s farm or a couple of years before returning to Harrisonville. He worked at US Reel in Harrisonville until his retirement.
Jeff was very active in the Harrisonville AA Chapter and helped many through his dedication. He never missed a day riding the OATs bus to the Harrisonville Community Center for the Senior Citizens daily noon meal and the card games that followed. He loved playing cards. He got a scooter through VA that let him travel next door to Wal-Mart for groceries and necessities. He had a magnifier that let him read the Kansas City Star daily. Even after he broke his hip in a fall, he was determined to get back to the things he loved. Unfortunately, his heart didn’t cooperate.
Jeff is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Donald, Howard, Robert, and Clarence; and sisters Dorothy Foster and Roberta Allen.
He is survived by many nieces and nephews; and a very large group of friends who at times were more like his immediate family.
Funeral services were held Friday, January 18, 2013 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Cass County Community Center Meals on Wheels, Harrisonville AA, or Harrisonville OATs.
William Jefferson (Jeff) Gilkeson, 83, of Harrisonville, MO, passed away January 13, 2013 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO after complications from a broken hip.
Jeff was born on June 23, 1929 on the family farm west of Garden City to Franklin Harrison and Ellen (Veach) Gilkeson. He was one of seven children. When Jeff was 2-years-old, his mother passed away. At that time his younger brother, Clarence, who was four months old, went to live with his grandparents in Strasburg, MO. However, his father felt Jeff should stay in the family home and and was taken care of by older sisters, Dorothy and Roberta. It was a common sight back then to see Jeff following his father around the farm as he did his chores.
Jeff attended Sugar Creek School and graduated from Garden City High School. He served in the US Army from 1946-1948. He was at Fort Lewis, Washington, and then in Japan. He started work for General Motors in 1949 and worked there for 15 years. He later worked for UMKC for a year and then Rutledge Oil Company for several years. He moved to Monica, Il, where he lived and worked on his brother Don’s farm or a couple of years before returning to Harrisonville. He worked at US Reel in Harrisonville until his retirement.
Jeff was very active in the Harrisonville AA Chapter and helped many through his dedication. He never missed a day riding the OATs bus to the Harrisonville Community Center for the Senior Citizens daily noon meal and the card games that followed. He loved playing cards. He got a scooter through VA that let him travel next door to Wal-Mart for groceries and necessities. He had a magnifier that let him read the Kansas City Star daily. Even after he broke his hip in a fall, he was determined to get back to the things he loved. Unfortunately, his heart didn’t cooperate.
Jeff is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Donald, Howard, Robert, and Clarence; and sisters Dorothy Foster and Roberta Allen.
He is survived by many nieces and nephews; and a very large group of friends who at times were more like his immediate family.
Funeral services were held Friday, January 18, 2013 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Cass County Community Center Meals on Wheels, Harrisonville AA, or Harrisonville OATs.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William 'Jeff' Gilkeson, please visit our flower store.
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