Gilfred Gilbert "Gil" Colgan

Gilfred “Gil” Colgan was born Wednesday, May 24, 1922 to Gilbert and Anna Ruth (Kniffen) Colgan. Gil was raised on the farm, attended rural school and graduated from Tyndall High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Force on November 5, 1942 and served in World War II. He was stationed in England in the motor pool as a light truck driver. While stationed in England, Gil met and married Blanche Sybil Young of Hemel Hempstead, Hertsfordshire, England. They were married on December 18, 1943 at St. John’s Church in Boxmoor, England. Gil was later transferred to duty in Germany, so Sybil and baby son Ray boarded an Army ship sailing to New York. Once in America, Sybil and Ray came to Tyndall to stay with Gil’s parents until his return from the war on June 6, 1944. Gilfred and Sybil lived in Tyndall, Gil working as a truck driver and later returning to farming. They had four more children, Robert, Sharon, Valerie and Judy. Gil farmed by Tyndall and later moved and farmed near Avon. In 1980, Gil and Sybil semi-retired to an acreage outside of Tyndall, later retiring to a home in Tyndall. Gil continued to do custom baling for many more years. Gil was a proud lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He had a love for hunting, fishing, and trap shooting, watching his grandchildren grow up, and playing pinochle with friends. He also enjoyed bowling and reading Western novels. Gil passed away on Sunday, March 31, 2013 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton, having attained the age of 90 years, 10 months and 7 days.
Surviving Gil are his wife, Sybil; five children: Ray (Harvelene) Colgan of Jaken, Georgia, Robert (Anna) Colgan of Springfield, Sharon (Mike) Giedd of Avon, Valerie (Rick) Hans of Wynot, Nebraska and Judy (Larry) Rickard of Brookings; 17 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Delores Plaatje of Tyndall; and a nephew, Duane (Jean) Plaatje.
Preceded Gil in death were his parents, Gilbert and Anna Ruth Colgan, three grandsons: Trebor Colgan, Andrew Rickard and Ronald Colgan; his brother-in-law, Wesley (Buster) Plaatje; and nephew James Plaatje.