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Gilbert L. "Gil" Frentz Jun 24 2009
Funeral services for Gilbert Louis ‘Gil’ Frentz, age 87, of Watertown, SD, will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. Rev. John Carter will officiate. Music will be provided by Karen Livingston as organist and Sharon Renner as soloist. Gil passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at his residence. Burial, with military graveside honors provided by Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars and Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion, both of Watertown, will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be Gil’s granddaughters: Angie Erickson, Shannon Daborkow, Jodi Pearson, Erica Frentz, Mackenzie Molengraaf, April Frentz, and Erin Frentz. Active pallbearers will be Gil’s grandsons: Mark Riley, Jamie Frentz, Tom Riley, Jeremy Riley, Tim Daborkow, Josh Frentz, Bryce Frentz, Tony Daborkow, Logan Pearson, and Morgan Pearson. Visitation will be at Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 12:30 a.m. for a prayer service. Gilbert was born on January 9, 1922, in Mazeppa Township, Grant County, SD, to Herman Adolph and Theresa Augusta (Heuer) Frentz. He attended rural school in Grant County and one year at Summit High School. He received an honorary degree from Watertown High School. Gil served in the U.S. Army during WWII with the 91st Division Field Artillery Battalion through Africa and European Theaters. He was honorably discharged on November 10, 1945. On September 29, 1945, Gil married Elnore Schmahl at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Watertown where Gil drove truck for Skinner Transfer and Storage from 1946 to 1953, worked for Watertown Monument Works from 1953 to 1961, and was employed by the S.D. Dept. of Transportation from 1961 to 1987 when he retired. He was a member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Sr. Citizens, R.S.V.P., and Golden Age. He was also very active in the American Legion and was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. where he had served as commander. Gil was proud to fold the flag during military graveside rites and carried the flag during many veterans’ ceremonies. He also ushered for many funerals. He was well known for his making of canes that he never received any compensation for. Gil enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, and camping. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, especially with his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all little children. Gil is survived by his wife, Elnore, of Watertown; five children: Juanita (Clyde) Daborkow of Lakefield, MN, Glenn (Barbara) Frentz and Susan (Jerry) Riley all of Watertown, SD, and Ronald (Betty) Frentz and Alan (Sandy) Frentz all of Sioux Falls, SD; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Victor Frentz of Watertown, SD, and Harold (Janis) of Sioux Falls, SD; and one sister, Ramona Hjellming, of Watertown, SD. He was preceded in death by one great-grandson, his parents, three brothers, and 1 sister.

Gilbert L. "Gil" Frentz
Jun 24 2009

Funeral services for Gilbert Louis ‘Gil’ Frentz, age 87, of Watertown, SD, will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2009, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. Rev. John Carter will officiate. Music will be provided by Karen Livingston as organist and Sharon Renner as soloist. Gil passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at his residence.

Burial, with military graveside honors provided by Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars and Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion, both of Watertown, will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be Gil’s granddaughters: Angie Erickson, Shannon Daborkow, Jodi Pearson, Erica Frentz, Mackenzie Molengraaf, April Frentz, and Erin Frentz. Active pallbearers will be Gil’s grandsons: Mark Riley, Jamie Frentz, Tom Riley, Jeremy Riley, Tim Daborkow, Josh Frentz, Bryce Frentz, Tony Daborkow, Logan Pearson, and Morgan Pearson.

Visitation will be at Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 12:30 a.m. for a prayer service.

Gilbert was born on January 9, 1922, in Mazeppa Township, Grant County, SD, to Herman Adolph and Theresa Augusta (Heuer) Frentz. He attended rural school in Grant County and one year at Summit High School. He received an honorary degree from Watertown High School. Gil served in the U.S. Army during WWII with the 91st Division Field Artillery Battalion through Africa and European Theaters. He was honorably discharged on November 10, 1945.

On September 29, 1945, Gil married Elnore Schmahl at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Watertown where Gil drove truck for Skinner Transfer and Storage from 1946 to 1953, worked for Watertown Monument Works from 1953 to 1961, and was employed by the S.D. Dept. of Transportation from 1961 to 1987 when he retired.

He was a member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Sr. Citizens, R.S.V.P., and Golden Age. He was also very active in the American Legion and was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. where he had served as commander. Gil was proud to fold the flag during military graveside rites and carried the flag during many veterans’ ceremonies. He also ushered for many funerals. He was well known for his making of canes that he never received any compensation for. Gil enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, and camping. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, especially with his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all little children.

Gil is survived by his wife, Elnore, of Watertown; five children: Juanita (Clyde) Daborkow of Lakefield, MN, Glenn (Barbara) Frentz and Susan (Jerry) Riley all of Watertown, SD, and Ronald (Betty) Frentz and Alan (Sandy) Frentz all of Sioux Falls, SD; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Victor Frentz of Watertown, SD, and Harold (Janis) of Sioux Falls, SD; and one sister, Ramona Hjellming, of Watertown, SD.

He was preceded in death by one great-grandson, his parents, three brothers, and 1 sister.

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