Leroy Donald Gilson, age 73, of the town of Winneconne, died peacefully after a short illness on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh.

He was born February 12, 1946, in Neenah, the son of Donald and Adeline (Kuchenbecker) Gilson.  Leroy was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Winneconne and was a 1964 graduate of Winneconne High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He grew up at the cheese factory that his parents owned in Ball Prairie, town of Winneconne. On June 7, 1979, he was united in marriage to Sally Olson at Grace Lutheran Church in Winchester.

Leroy was a draftsman at Hartley Controls in Neenah and S.J. Baisch in Kaukauna. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and sturgeon spearer. Leroy was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Zittau.

He is survived by his wife, Sally; daughter, Meghan (Kurt) Moeller; son, Todd (Jessica) Gilson; seven grandchildren, Maclayne, Ellie, Adelyn, Gracelyn, Blake, Adam, and Brynlie; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jayme Olson, Suzanne (Kurt) Luedtke, Ann (Dan) Pupp, Jan Olson; and nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Leroy was preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 26, at 11:00 a.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Zittau (9077 North Road, Fremont), the Rev. Mark Kinney officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 25, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mueller Funeral Home, 904 E. Main Street, Winneconne and at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Bell Cemetery, town of Winneconne. The family will continue to celebrate Leroy’s life after 3:00 p.m. Tuesday at Woodeye’s in Winneconne.

A memorial has been established.

If you wish, please submit online condolences to muellerfh.net.