Obituary: Gilk, William Edward Jr.
Age 55
Bill was born to William and (LaNell) E. Gilk Sr. on October 29, 1957 in Chehalis, WA.
He attended Napavine Schools where he participated in basketball and track and graduated in 1976.
Bill immediately entered the U.S. Air Force following High School.
He honorably served his country for 20 years in various locations, such as New Mexico, Colorado, and Alaska, as a computer analyst, even serving abroad in England.
During his service he was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal and also received the Air Force Commendation medal 4 times.
Bill retired as a Tech.
Sergeant (E-6) in 1996 while stationed @ Fairchild Air Base near Spokane.
Bill was presently employed for AMX as a computer analyst supervisor.
Bill enjoyed watching sports, and attended local Spokane Indian games.
He liked spending time in the outdoors, working with his horses, traveling, playing cribbage, and bowling.
He attended the Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Spokane.
Bill was a very caring man and helped with charities such as the Special Olympics and the Cheney Relay for Life.
He was recognized by many as the guy with the long mustache.
Yet, his greatest love was the time he spent with his family and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, William Sr.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Luletta (Lue) of Cheney, his mother LaNell Gilk of Chehalis, his daughter Nicole (Dave) Zickler of Loon Lake, sons Nathan of Spangle, James of Spokane, and Jacob of Cheney.
He has three grandchildren: Kylie and David Zickler and Zachary Gilk.
Bill is also survived by his brother Mike (Diane) Gilk of Winlock, sister Susan Anderson of Chehalis, and brother Frank (Teresa) Holmes of Toledo.
Bill was also greatly loved by his brothers/sister-in-laws: George (Deb) Bright, and Steve (Patty) Bright both of Sidney, MT, and Carmella (Scott) Lappin, of Douglas, WY.
He also had many nieces and nephews.
Services for Bill will be held at the Pilgrim Lutheran Church 2733 W. Northwest Blvd., Spokane on Friday, March 15th at 11:00 a.m. A military graveside service will follow at 2:15 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Medical Lake.
A second memorial service will be held for Bill in Chehalis on Saturday April 6th at 1:00 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Museum.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Veteran Memorial Cemetery, 21702 West Espanola Road, Medical Lake, WA 99022, the Cheney Relay for Life Chapter, or the Veterans Memorial Museum, 100 Veterans Way, Chehalis, WA 98532.