Gordon Gilbert

Gordon Gilbert, 93, of Eden Prairie, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025.

Gordon was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on Feb. 6, 1932, and graduated from Chippewa Falls High School. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for two years, then served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956. For two of those years, he was stationed in Port Lyautey, Morocco, assigned to Fleet Weather Control. He later completed his education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1958.

He moved to California, where he met and married the love of his life, Sarah “June.” In the early 1960s, they relocated to Minneapolis to be closer to family.

Gordon spent most of his professional career at Northwest Airlines, where he worked as director of risk management until his retirement in 1992. He loved every aspect of the ever-changing and challenging work of managing the complex risks of the sixth-largest airline in the world. To all who interacted with him, Gordon was known for his integrity, intense loyalty to Northwest, and kind, calm demeanor – no matter the situation.

He was a longtime member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, the Eden Prairie Lions Club, and the Mixed Nuts group, where he especially enjoyed their biannual fishing trips. He played in bocce ball and golf leagues and volunteered for many organizations. Gordon and June loved traveling the world and spent their winters in Destin, Florida.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, June, who passed away in 2023; his sister Doris LeMay, who died in 2016; and his sister Carol Magill, who died three weeks before him.

He is survived by his daughters, Janelle Steinman (Peter) and Laurelle Clarke; brother, Jim Gilbert of Washington; grandsons, Alexander Steinman and Andrew Steinman; several nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends.

We will all miss his zest for life, friendly demeanor, and wonderful sense of humor.

Special thanks to Summit Place, Assisting Hands, and Brighton Hospice for the loving care they provided in his final phase of life.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 13600 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie. Visitation begins at noon. Fellowship and refreshments will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Andrew Lutheran Church or the Eden Prairie Lions Foundation, P.O. Box 44364, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.