Allan Gilbertson

FOREST CITY - Allan Gilbertson, 75, of Forest City died Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, February 1 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating.

Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Forest City.

Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, Thursday, January 31, 2013 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark Street, Forest City and continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Allan was born June 29, 1937 to Leonard and Olive (Tweeten) Gilbertson. He graduated from Forest City High School in 1955, Waldorf College in 1957 and Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls.

He married Donna (Heitland) Gilbertson November 26, 1958, and to this union three children were born, Mark, Dennis and Mary.

Al had an extraordinary career teaching high school advanced math, where he was a favorite teacher to many. He coached almost every girls' and boys' sport at one time or another. He taught in Wellsburg and Rolfe before returning home to Forest City in 1972. Al's greatest passion was girls' track and field. In Rolfe he coached two state championship teams in 1967 and 1968, when all schools were in one class. At Forest City he coached several state champion events, and his teams won many conference championships. He was inducted into the Rolfe Athletic Hall of Fame and the Forest City Education Hall of Fame. He recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Forest City High School.

Al was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and a former member of the Forest City Lions' Club. He spent many summers doing exterior painting in the area. He painted with other teachers and also had a paint crew with his kids. He also enjoyed treasure hunting. You could see him all over town with his metal detector looking for coins and treasures.

Al and Donna spent fourteen winters at Fiesta Village in Mission Texas. They have many dear friends from Forest City and Fiesta Village.

Al was a devoted husband, a loving and caring father, and a proud and generous grandfather. He and Donna loved supporting their grandkids at their athletic and fine arts events.

He is survived by his wife, Donna, of 53 years; children Mark (Rita), Denny (Beth) all of Forest City, Mary (Scott) Meyer of Dougherty; grandchildren Robby, Reid, Holly and Bailey Gilbertson, Justin and Morgan Meyer, and step-granddaughter Alison Hagarty; a brother James (Karen) of Prairie Village, KS; sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws, Shirley (Jerry) Higbee, Butch (Jean) Heitland, and (Gescha) Heitland, all of Lake Mills; many nieces and nephews, extended relatives, friends and former students.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Olive Gilbertson, in laws Edward and Marion Heitland, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, Jim (Marilyn) Heitland, and Dave (Mae and Betty) Heitland.