Gilbert Jens Egge was born on April 15, 1919, the son of Walter and Bertha (Stordahl) Egge in Fosten, MN. His family moved to Pontiac, Michigan, when he was a young boy. He graduated from high school in Pontiac and became an auto body apprentice. In August 1939, he married Alice Hunt. To this union, four children were born: Gilbert, Jr., Lynn, Kevin and Christine. This marriage was dissolved in 1980. Gil entered the US Army in April 1944, serving in Iran. Gil spent the last two years of his service as a military liaison with TWA moving military equipment from the Mid-East to other countries. In 1948, Gil began his work career doing auto body work as owner/operator of a Body Shop Garage in Birmingham, MI. In 1953, Gil moved to Calmar, IA, as owner/operator of Egge Chevrolet. While in Calmar Gil helped start the Calmar Lions Club, the Calmar Development Corporation and was instrumental in bringing NICC to Calmar. The South Winn Country Club was Gil’s idea and he was one of the five founders that organized the golf course. In 1970, Gil moved to Fennimore, WI, to teach auto body for ten years. During this time, Gil returned to school himself, earning his own college degree. In 1980, Gil moved to Tulsa, OK, and spent the rest of his working life self-employed doing auto body restoration. Gil was a master craftsman at body work and worked on the great classics like Packards, Pierce Arrows, Cords and Franklins. Gil’s love for automobiles was a life-long passion. In 1984, Gil moved to Florida where he continued to do auto restoration. In 1988, Gil married Joanne Wangsness Weselmann. In 1998, they moved to Decorah, IA. Gil continued to do free-lance auto body repair until the age of 90. Gil was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling. Gil was a member of the Calmar Lutheran Church and Halverson-Giesen American Legion Post #266. He also was a former member of the Elks Lodge and the South Winn Country Club.
Gil was preceded in death by his parents: Walter and Bertha (Stordahl) Egge. Two sisters: Rose (John) Kosut and Bernice (Lester) Simmons. Brother-in-law: William DeSonia. Daughter-in-law: Ruth Egge. Two sons-in-law: Lynn Easler and Greg Harb. One sister-in-law: Virginia Snyder. Three brothers-in-law: Willis Wangsness, John Wangsness and Roy Snyder. One step-great granddaughter: Adrian Vick. Gil’s former wife: Alice Egge.