Sally V. Gilson, age 70, went to her eternal home with her Lord and Savior on April 1, 2024, after fighting cancer for two years. She was born on Father's Day June 21, 1953, to Bayward “Chink” and Rosemary (Winter) Olson in Neenah, WI. 

Sally, her parents, and older sister Sue lived with her Grandma and Grandpa Olson on their farm until she was five years old when they moved to their own farm in the Town of Vinland. She attended Allenville school and then went onto Winneconne graduating in 1971. Sally received a degree in education from UW-Green Bay. For over 25 years she worked as the Director of the Winnefox Library System, making many friends and connections across the multi county system. During that time, she drove to UW-Madison to earn her Master's degree in Library Science and was later employed by the Oshkosh School system as the Media Specialist at Merrill Middle School and Lincoln Elementary. She loved working with children and sharing her love of reading. Sally retired in 2011 which gave her more time to be involved with the Winchester Area Historical Society, Winneconne Historical Society, and the Upper Lakes Sturgeon for Tomorrow Chapter where she served as president. 

Sally was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Winchester. On June 7, 1979, she married Leroy Gilson at Grace Lutheran. They celebrated almost 40 years of marriage until Leroy's passing on March 20, 2019. After her husband's passing, she began working as the church secretary at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Zittau where she had been a member since the Fall of 1980. During her early years with her young family, you could find her teaching Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, cheering on her kids at the ball diamond and wrestling mat, spending weekends in Tigerton at their cabin, reading a good book to herself or her kids, or making jellies and jams to share. She loved her kids and probably did not use the word No enough with them. When her grandkids came along, the word No was no longer in her vocabulary. Sally was beyond generous with her time, love, and gift giving. She attended the Outagamie, Winnebago, and Wisconsin State fairs all three for a couple of years watching her Gilson girls show their animals. If her grandkids were involved, she did not want to miss it.  She loved cheering for her Badgers, the Packers, watching Hallmark movies, tending to her flowers, and if you were selling something she was buying especially raffle tickets-she loved supporting organizations anyway she could.

Sally is survived by her daughter, Meghan (Kurt) Moeller of Seymour; son, Todd (Jessica) Gilson of Omro; grandchildren, Maclayne (fiancé Zach Gazda) Gilson of Hermansville, MI; Ellie, Adelyn, Gracelyn, and Brynlie Gilson of Omro; and Blake and Adam Moeller of Seymour. She is also survived by her sisters, brothers-in-law and brother, Suzanne and Kurt Luedtke of Rhinelander, Ann and Dan Pupp of Stoughton, Jayme Olson of Baraboo, Jan Olson of Wisconsin Dells; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Sally was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy; parents, Leroy's parents, Don and Adeline Gilson; and a nephew, Zachary Olson.

A visitation for family and friends will be on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Mueller Funeral Home 904 E. Main St. Winneconne. Visitation will continue on Wednesday, April 10 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church-Zittau 9077 North Rd. Fremont. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Pastor Tauna Roth officiating. Interment will be at a later date in the Bell Cemetery, Winneconne.

If you wish please submit online condolences/memories to muellerfh.net.