Gary Gilbert

Gary Kenneth Gilbert, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 4, 2014.

He was the son of Charles Wooten and Violet Markhart Gilbert, born in the family home on North Middle Street in Cape Girardeau on Feb. 3, 1933. Family and friends knew him as "Sonny," given to him as a young boy by his mother who exclaimed that, "he was so bright, we had to put a washtub on him to let the sun come up."

Sonny grew up in Southeast Missouri, and was a 1951 graduate of Jackson High School and a 1955 graduate of Southeast Missouri State College with an Industrial Arts and Education degree and he lettered four years in basketball where fans, and especially opponents, would remember him for his uncanny dribbling skills. He never stopped learning and added a master of science degree in education in 1961 and a specialist in education administration degree in 1971, both from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Gary Gilbert

While in college, Sonny participated in the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class, leading to a second lieutenant commission upon graduation and achieving the rank of first lieutenant prior to his completion of active duty. He continued in the reserves and was honorably discharged in 1961. Sonny married Joy Kurka of Cape Girardeau on Oct. 1, 1955, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia.

Sonny taught industrial arts at schools in Flint, Michigan, in 1958 and 1959, and Malden, Missouri, from 1959 to 1965. While at Malden, he founded the Malden Tri-County Trade School. He also coached the Flint Huskies and Malden Greenwave high schools' basketball, football and baseball teams.

In 1965, Sonny moved back to Cape Girardeau and founded the Cape Area Vocational Technical School, commonly called Cape Vo-Tech. Under his direction, the area benefited from his founding of many high school and adult education programs at Cape Vo-Tech that continue to be available to everyone today at the current Career and Technology Center. Sonny expanded his influence nationally, working on several activities, programs and committees of the National Vocational Association and other state and national education organizations. He served a four-year term on the NVA Board and as president. Upon retirement in 1992, after 27 years as Vo-Tech director, Sonny continued as a consultant for the Missouri State Department of Education for several years.

In 1980, Sonny took up running and quickly became a top competitor in his age group in local and area races, including several marathons. He supported the running community with his support of the fledgling Cape Road Runners Club, running and volunteering for nearly every race, serving in club offices, including president and as a club board member.

Sonny was a true fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team all of his life and often recalled Dizzy Dean's, Harry Caray's and Jack Buck's play-by-play radio broadcasts. He would quickly name Stan Musial as his favorite player and cherished a replica Musial harmonica from a recent home-game giveaway. This favoritism was perhaps tied into the similarities of his and Musial's left-handed play of the outfield and first base. As a young man, Sonny had dreamed of a pro baseball career, and while considered an excellent player, he could never quite make the cut in his pro baseball tryouts.

Sonny was an avid Civil War re-enactor, and participated in re-enacting events all over the country. He was considered an excellent reference and example of authenticity, with authentic clothing and weaponry. In addition, he was self-taught to play the harmonica, fife and violin for typical period camp entertainment, volunteered for show and tell at schools in full uniform and character, and portrayed an infantryman in the 1993 movie "Gettysburg," in which he would fondly tell of many conversations he had with Sam Elliott (Brig. Gen. John Buford) during many lulls in the movie production.

Sonny immersed himself in the study of the history of the American West and the Indian Wars. For over 30 years he traveled to Montana to commemorate the Battle of the Little Bighorn every June 25. He supported the Little Bighorn Associates, the Custer Battlefield Museum and Historical Association, Friends of the Little Bighorn Battlefield and the Order of the Indian Wars. He extended his interest by becoming a National Master Ranger Corps volunteer for 12 years at Little Big Horn, Montana, and Fort Bowie, Arizona.

Since 2002 he contributed countless hours of research for programs that continue to look for true details of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, specifically identifying hundreds of Native American participants and contributing to and documenting accounts.

Sonny was the most patriotic person anyone ever knew. His love of his country reflected in all he did. His tragic death July 4 was ironically just after an Independence Day family celebration when he gathered his family annually for talk, songs and celebration of the flag and country. These celebrations and presentations were famous within his circle of family and friends.

In everything he did, he exemplified the saying, "If it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing your best," yet he often humbly repeated that he was a "jack of all trades, master of none."

Survivors include his wife, Joy Kurka Gilbert of Cape Girardeau; son Kenneth Dean Gilbert of Cary, North Carolina; daughters Gay and husband Robert Pilsner of Cape Girardeau and Julie and husband Kenneth Becker of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Grandchildren on Kenneth's side are Sunny Deshea Gilbert of Ellisville, Missouri, and Katie Michelle Gilbert of Las Vegas. Grandchildren on Gay's side are Arthur Blake Pilsner and wife Sara, Heidi Pilsner, Alex Wayne Pilsner, Haley Pilsner and Hannah Pilsner, all of Cape Girardeau. On Julie's side, grandchildren are Luke Spencer Becker and Connor Reece Becker, and step-grandchildren Erika Danielle Becker and husband Daniel Parks and Alison Machelle Becker, all of Poplar Bluff. Siblings are sister Betty Rose Gilbert Litzelfelner and Donald Charles Gilbert, both of Dallas. Great-grandchildren are Rylie Priggel, Saydi Priggel and Erin Delaney Parks.

Viewing will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, 1001 N. Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, followed by an invitation for family and friends to present personal memories beginning at 7 p.m., ending with a military tribute in honor of his patriotism and service to his country.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made in Gary Gilbert's name to Friends of the Little Bighorn Battlefield, PO Box 636, Crow Agency, MT, 59022, 303-229-8319. Make checks out to "Friends LBH."

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.