Gordon D. Willts

GORDON DEAN WILLTS was born on July 2, 1936 to Henry and Hattie (Pater) Willts in Ashton, Iowa. Gordy was raised and attended school in Bigelow, Minnesota. He graduated from high school in Worthington, Minnesota. On June 21, 1957, he married Jeanine Johnson in Worthington. This union was blessed with two children, Pamela and Lisa. Gordon served in the Army National Guard and later attended Sioux Falls Barber College. After moving his family to Watertown, South Dakota, he began his barbering career. In addition to barbering, Gordy also drove truck long-distance traveling throughout the United States. Since 1968, Gordy and Jeanine have made their home in Tyler, Minnesota. Though he retired from barbering in 1998, he continued to work part time for several years at Tyler Lumber Company and CHS in Ruthton, Minnesota. After retirement, the couple enjoyed travelling to visit family and friends, and especially cherished the trips to Arizona and Washington to visit their daughter. On Sunday, October 28, 2018, Gordon passed away at the Avera Hospital in Tyler at the age of 82 years, 3 months, and 26 days.

Gordy appreciated many things in life. He was a confirmed member of First English Lutheran Church in Tyler, and a member of the American Legion for 36 years. He always maintained a large garden and enjoyed sharing the “fruits of his labor” with others. Always a cowboy at heart, Gordy loved everything that spoke of the old West. He also enjoyed fishing, trips to the casino, and driving to the farm (near Ashton, Iowa that had been owned by his family for over 100 years) to see the crops. Gordon’s life was so richly blessed with his family and many friends. He rarely missed a day going into town to have coffee and visit with his buddies at the station. Gordy was so very proud of his three grandchildren and loved spending time with them. He especially cherished their week-long visits during the summers.

Gordon is survived by his wife Jeanine of Tyler; daughters, Pamela and her husband, Todd Juber of Sibley, Iowa and Lisa Willts and her significant other, Don Gonser of Vancouver, Washington; grandchildren, Gretchen, Matthew and his fiancé, Josie Hyland, and Grant Juber; and his sister, Elaine Reitsma of Tea, South Dakota. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Hattie; parents-in-law, Anna and Myron Johnson; and many aunts, uncles, and friends.