Rodney E. Gilbertson, age 82, of Portage, passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2014. He was born on September 15, 1932 in Carrington, North Dakota to the late Ludvig and Dorothy (nee Brooker) Gilbertson and had been a longtime Porter County resident. Rodney served his country in the United States Army, was a 1987 retiree of US Steel Gary Works and a member of V.F.W Post 9323. On September 1, 1973 Rodney married the love of his life Norma J. Reidenga in Highland, Indiana. Rodney was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
He is survived by his wife of 41years, Norma J. (nee Reidenga) Gilbertson; three sons, Michael Yonker, Joseph (Sabrina) DeYoung , William (Kathy) DeYoung; three daughters, Rhonda (Michael) Wiseman, Jeri Lynn (William) Foster, Patricia (Roger) Haupert; four sisters, Betty Kelly, Lucille (Jim) Jackson, Pat Fisk, , Elsie O'Lear of Flint, Michigan; two brothers, Jerry (Karla) Gilbertson and Dennis (Rose Ann) Gilbertson; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, many other loving family members and friends .
Rodney was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Royce Gilbertson and Eugene Beaumont and two sisters, Anna Peckam and June Schultz .
A funeral service for Rodney will be Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel, 5341 Central Ave., Portage, Indiana 46368. Visitation will be on Monday, November 24, 2014 from 2:00 -7:00 pm at Rees Funeral Home, 5341 Central Ave. Portage, Indiana 46368. Burial at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville, Indiana. For information, please call (219) 762-3013 or go online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com to extend online condolences.