Gilbertson, Ronald W.

Ronald W. Gilbertson, age 88, of Dodgeville, formerly of Ridgeway, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday November 25, 2024.

He was born in Dodgeville on November 14, 1936 to Reuben and Isabel (Harms) Gilbertson and was raised on the family farm near Hollandale. He graduated from Barneveld High School in 1955 and served his country in Italy from 1955-1957 in the U.S. Army and continued in the guards until 1962. In 1958 he married Helene Ryan of Ridgeway and together had four children; Ricky, Randy, Roxanne, and Rhonda.

A carpenter his entire life, he continued into retirement making wooden furniture, toys, and other special requests from family and friends. His most notable creation is the child sized train set now stationed on the Murphy property in Ridgeway. He was a member of the 40/8 club, Knights of Columbus and St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Ridgeway.

He will be missed by his wife of 66 years, Helene; his children: Randy (Sue) of Janesville, Roxanne (Jon) Iverson of Ridgeway and Rhonda (Tim) Polkinghorn of Mineral Point; his grandchildren: Tyler Iverson (Brittany Gutche) of Merrill, Keegan (Jeremy) Kofoot of Madison, Melissa (Jeff) Dettman and Denise (Mike) Schauer both of Janesville; his great grandchildren: Noelle, Levi, Colton, Zane, Talia, Ryan, and Sullivan and bonus granddaughter Myla. He is also survived by his sister Luanne (Jim) Borcherding of Dodgeville and sister-in-law Theresa (Ladd) Puskus of Texas.

He was preceded in death by his son Rick, his parents, his brother Eugene and his wife Carol of Dodgeville and Helene's siblings and good friends Milton and Martha Husom, Ralph and Monica Scheidegger and Jim and Marlene Ryan all of Ridgeway.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 29, 2024 at ST. BRIDGET’S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Ridgeway. Burial will be held in St. Bridget’s Cemetery with Military Graveside Rites accorded by the Ridgeway American Legion Post No. 257. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. on Friday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Ridgeway Veteran’s Memorial Project.

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers 

Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com