William “Bill” F. Gilster
William “Bill” F. Gilster, 91, passed away peacefully, September 11, 2024, at Benedictine Manor.
Bill was born August 12, 1933, to Bill and Eileen (Haun) Gilster, a first generation U.S. Citizen. Bill was a life-long resident of French Island. He was baptized at St. James the Less Parish, attended elementary school at St. James and graduated from Aquinas High School in 1951. Bill was a current member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Onalaska.
Immediately after graduation, Bill started working for Peter Nelson & Son in the construction business and continued to work there until about 1973. In 1973, Gilster Construction was born. Bill and his company went on to build and remodel many local establishments, including Bridgeview Plaza on the Northside, Center 90, G. Heileman and Northern Engraving to name a few. If you knew Bill at all, you knew that the man loved to work!
Another love of Bill’s was the outdoors and hunting. Bill purchased his “Taylor Property” around 1996, and it was a beautiful retreat for him and many of his family and friends. In 2022, Bill sold the Taylor property to the Strupp family and it made him so happy to know that this place that was so special to Bill, was in the hands of a family that would treasure it as much as he did.
Throughout his life, Bill loved to hunt and fish. Growing up and living his whole life on the backwaters of the Mississippi and the Black River, Bill had access to it all. Bill also traveled to the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota, to name a few, to hunt all different types of wild game.
Bill built many houses on French Island that he or his parents lived in. The last house he started was in1951, and was his current house on Lakeshore Drive. People drove by the house just to look at the beautiful flowers displayed every summer and now, his very special friends Ronnie and Cami Pietrek, will continue the tradition as the new owners. For us kids who grew up in Bill’s neighborhood, we have many memories of spending our summers on Bill’s dock, either swimming, boating or fishing! Bill’s dock on French Slough was our haven for the great outdoors!
Bill is survived by nephews: Brian and Mark Pluta; and niece, Maureen Pluta; along with cousins and many many friends! Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Eileen; and a sister, Doris Pluta.
A special thanks to all of Bill’s caregivers at Benedictine Villas and Manor, along with Mayo Hospice staff.
A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., at St. Patrick’s Church, 1031 Main St., Onalaska. Msgr. Steven Kachel will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the mass at the church. Interment will take place at the Catholic Cemetery. Coulee Region Cremation Group is in care of arrangements.
In Lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your favorite local charity in Bill’s name.
