Gail Suzanne (Garvin) Wilbur, 85, peacefully passed away in her home surrounded by loved ones on May 23, 2024, in West Union, Iowa.
Gail was born on August 22, 1938, in Waterloo, Iowa, the oldest of Jack and Doris (Rowell) Garvin’s six children. She moved with her family from Waterloo to West Union receiving her education at West Union High School, and remaining in West Union for the remainder of her life. In March 1954, Gail married Robert (Bob) Wilbur and together they raised four children. Gail and Bob were married forty-nine years before Bob’s death in 2003.
Anyone who met Gail quickly understood that under her petite frame there was a remarkable strength of will. Never one to avoid giving her honest opinion, she inspired love (and occasionally a bit of fear) in those around her. Fond of “colorful” language and “slight” exaggeration, her favorite topic in any conversation with any person in any place was her grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she loved wholly and unconditionally.
Gail loved working in her yard, preparing delicious food for others and sunbathing on her back deck watching people stroll through her park. An avid reader, she was well known at the West Union Public Library where the librarians would regularly set aside books for her that they thought she would enjoy.
Gail is survived by her children, Randy (Karen) Wilbur, Lori Osmundson, Eric (Mary) Wilbur, and Jason (Lori) Wilbur, 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her beloved sister Joy Eischeid, her niece Alison Garvin, and her nephew Jay Wilbur.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at the United Methodist Church in West Union, Iowa with Pastor Hyeunmee Kang as the officiant.
Interment will immediately follow at West Union Cemetery in West Union, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage donations in Gail’s memory to:
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics Hospice Care (https://www.gundersenhealth.org/locations/palmer/patients-and-visitors/home-health-hospice)
West Union Recreation Center (https://wuparkandrec.com/wp/)
West Union Community Library (https://www.westunion.lib.ia.us/)
Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of West Union, Iowa is assisting the family with services.