Roland Sern Gilbertson, 82, of Amery, Wisconsin, passed away on Thursday, July 5, 2012, at Willow Ridge Nursing Home in Amery. Rollie was born at his grandparents' home outside of River Falls, Wisconsin on January 15, 1930 to Sern and Elizabeth (Haberstich) Gilbertson. He was baptized on July 27, 1930 at St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church of Ellsworth and was confirmed there on November 2, 1941.
Rollie spent his early school years at local rural schools Randall, Beldenville and Forestville. He attended high school in River Falls for two years and graduated from Ellsworth High School on May 27, 1946 at the age of 16. Following graduation, he worked for several months in Chicago at a manufacturing plant and later as a mechanic at the Farmers Union in Ellsworth and then at Indianhead Truck Line in St. Paul.
Rollie was united in marriage to Rose Marie Thorsbakken in an outdoor wedding at her parents' farm in rural Barron on May 24, 1950. Together they raised five children and celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary earlier this spring.
After marriage Rollie worked as a police officer in the city of River Falls. On December 29, 1955, he graduated from the first class of the Wisconsin State Patrol Academy at Fort McCoy. He began his State Patrol career in Amery where he was the Resident Officer for Burnett and Polk Counties. In November of 1968, he was offered the newly created position of Chemical Test Technician for the State of Wisconsin and was one of seven men working on the new Breathalyzer program. He retired in 1989. He served on the Amery City Council for a number of years. He also served as President of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Amery and was actively involved in the planning and building of the Fellowship Hall and later the new church building itself. Rollie was a member of the Amery Lions Club and received the national Melvin Jones Award in 2001.
Rollie had a life-long love of fishing, hunting and the outdoors. He knew the name of every trout stream in northern Wisconsin and fished them all. Following retirement, he and Rose travelled extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. They enjoyed wintering in Arizona and Alabama. He made and sold maple syrup for many years. He enjoyed his Tuesday morning golf group, his various coffee groups, and the fellowship with other parishioners following church. He loved his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and most of all, his wife, Rose. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Rollie was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Lee. He is survived by his wife, Rose, his five children: Kathy (Mike) Lind of Pine River, WI; Randy (Marla) Gilbertson of Spooner, WI; Ruth Ann (Norman) Will of Esko, MN; Paul (Patti) Gilbertson of Ashland, WI; and JoNell (Jim) Leadholm of Amery, WI. He is further survived by ten grandchildren: Nathan Lind (fiancée Becky Sullivan); Matthew (Stephanie) Lind; Melissa (Nathan) Najdowski; Sarah Lind; Joshua Gilbertson; Michael (Monica) Gilbertson; James and Jonathan Gilbertson; and Erika and Benjamin Leadholm. He has five great grandchildren: Connor Lind; Emma Rose, Theresa and Ethan Najdowski; and Finnegan Roland Gilbertson. He is also survived by brothers Clarence "Bud" (Marianne) Gilbertson of River Falls, WI and Gary (Carol) Gilbertson of Beldenville, WI; and his sister Iris "Susie" Winter of St. Paul, MN.
Memorials may be given to Our Savior's Lutheran Church Kitchen Fund, Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp or Amery Regional Medical Center Foundation.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 9, 2012 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Amery, Wisconsin. There will be a visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 8, 2012 at Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery and again one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial will be at the Amery Cemetery.