Ardell Gilster

Ardell Gilster, 88, of Pender, Nebraska, passed away on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at the Pender Community Hospital in Pender. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Emerson, Nebraska, with the Rev. Gretchen Ritola officiating. A visitation will be held on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Pender, Ne, with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Pender. Ardell was born on August 11, 1923 on a farm southwest of Pender, the son of Johnny and Leona (Lund) Gilster. He attended country school and entered the U.S. Armed services at the age of 19. He served in the South Pacific for two years, taking part in the invasion of the Philippines, receiving three bronze stars. He received an honorable discharge in January of 1946. He married Donna Stimson on March 20, 1947. To this union three children were born: Terry, Alan and Dreama. Ardell worked for Christiansen Construction for 24 years, and Automatic for ten years before retiring. He enjoyed camping and fishing, and in his later years woodworking and model ship building. Ardell is survived by his wife Donna, son Terry and his wife Renae of Paris Texas, son Alan and his wife Barb of Emerson, daughter Dreama Heairet, and her husband Dean of Omaha, NE. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and twenty one great-grandchildren, sister Darlene Zobel of Norfolk, NE, half sister Lynette Risor and her husband Alan of Wisner, NE, and half sister Shirley Gilster of Omaha, as well as several nieces and nephews. Ardell was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Vern and LeRoy.