Freddie Alden Gilbert of Mesa, Arizona, age 86, joined his heavenly Father November 29, 2023. (Or as he would have said, he “got promoted!”) Born April 27, 1937, to Donald Frederic Gilbert and Marian Elizabeth Stough Gilbert in Fort Morgan, Colorado, he was a cowboy at heart!
As a church janitor, USPS mail carrier, Ratheon employee, franchisee owner of 7-11 in Santa Clara, CA, owner of Gilbert Automotive, owner/operator for Mayflower Transit and driver at the General Motors Proving grounds, he truly was a “jack of all trades.” Perhaps the job he held closest to his heart was being the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Brandon, Minnesota.
He was a long time member of Desert Cross Lutheran Church in Tempe, Arizona, where he served passionately for over 30 years and was a founding member of the “Wise Guys.”
He is survived by his brothers Richard L. Gilbert of Las Vegas, Nevada and David B. Barber of Craig, Colorado, his children Timothy A. Gilbert of Incline Village, Nevada, Terri A. Reynolds of Buckeye, Arizona and Kyle E. Gilbert of Vancouver, Washington, his grandchildren Tiffany, Melissa, Veronica, Tim Jr., Victoria, Broderic and Fallon and 11 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Donald E. Barber, a sister Arlene F. Sisson and his wife Joyce Gilbert.
The memorial service will be held on January 13, 2024, at 11AM at Desert Cross Lutheran Church at 8600 S. McClintock Dr. in Tempe, AZ, 85284. The service will be live streamed at youtube.com/@DesertCrossLutheranChurch.
Memorial donations may be made to the I-Help ministry at Desert Cross in Fred’s name. Checks should be made out to Desert Cross with the notation of I-Help/Fred Gilbert.
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
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