Doyle Gilson

Doyle Eugene Gilson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away peacefully on March 20, 2021 at home with his family by his side.

He was born August 8, 1931 to Leslie “Less” and Julia “Bess” (Fox) Gilson.  When he was six, the family moved to Pine River, MN where he grew up.  He worked on the family farm and served in the Army Reserves for 8 years. On June 2, 1953 he married the love of his life, Agnes Schimming, and together they built a life they loved.

They lived at Sawbill Landing for 9 years then spent 35 years at Lax Lake before moving to Silver Bay in 2003.  They also enjoyed 15 years wintering in Texas.

Doyle was a member of United Protestant Church in Silver Bay, the Finland Snowmobile Club, Lax Lake Property Owners, and Wrinkle Riders.

He enjoyed traveling, dancing, woodworking, and working on snowmobile trails.  Doyle could fix anything and loved to take a vehicle apart and make something different out of it.

Doyle was a school bus driver and school bus mechanic for Lake Superior School District for over 30 years, retiring in 1990.

Doyle was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Darrel and Donald, and daughter-in-law, Cara Gilson

He is survived by wife of 67 years Agnes; daughters, Julia (Tom) Antikainen of Orr, and Nancy Gilson of Silver Bay; sons Dayle (Darla) of Richland, WA, Dave (Trisha) of Satsuma, FL, and Scott of Lakeland, FL; sisters Delores Everhart, Karen Lyon, and Gail Benjamin; sisters-in-law Sandy Gilson and Linda Gilson; 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was a kind and gentle man and is very much missed.

Visitation will be from 10 AM until the 11 AM Celebration of Doyle’s Life on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at the United Protestant Church in Silver Bay.

The celebration will be followed by lunch in the church fellowship hall and burial at Sawtooth Mountain Cemetery.