Gordon D. Kilday, Fitchburg, WI (1923-2015)
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March 16, 1923 - April 14, 2015
Gordon D. Kilday, age 92, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. He was born on March 16, 1923, on a farm near Wisconsin Rapids, the son of James Kilday and Madeline (Pfister) Kilday. After graduation from Brodhead High School, Gordon enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on Dec. 8, 1941, shortly after the beginning of World War II. He graduated from the Army Air Corps Meteorology School and was assigned to the 18th Weather Squadron, where soon he was deployed to England, in Aug. 1942, to join a heavy bomber group as an Aviation Weather Specialist. Gordon’s meteorology group was involved in determining when D-day would take place. In August of 1945, he was honorably discharged and was soon employed by the U.S. National Weather Service and assigned to Madison, WI. Soon after, Gordon met his wife, Erna Walmow, and they were married on June 30, 1946, in Edgerton, WI. In July of 1947, he was transferred to Bethel, AK, a remote Weather Station in western Alaska, near the Bering Sea. Gordon and his wife, Erna, spent the next four years taking weather observations and forecasting. He was, then, transferred to Anchorage, the air crossroads of the world, where he was assigned an Aviation Weather forecaster. Gordon retired in February of 1979, at which time they moved back to Madison. During his time in Anchorage, he was fortunate to get a two year scholarship to study Meteorology at the University of Washington in Seattle. After his wife, Erna, passed away in July of 1982, Gordon met Dorothy Anderson. They were married in October of 1986, and lived in Fitchburg, on a quiet rural property. A lot of time was spent doing volunteer work and traveling. Dorothy passed away in August of 2010. Gordon was active for a number of years with the Fitchburg Senior Center, where he and Dorothy did volunteer work. Gordon was a member of NARFE Chapter 120, the American Legion Post No. 151 and the VFW Post No. 1318. He especially enjoyed working with electronics and computers.
Gordon is survived by his step-sons, Rock (Sherrill) Anderson of Chilton, WI, and Court (Debra) Anderson of Brookfield, WI; and three grandchildren: Meryl Morton, Laura (fiancé, John Kornfeld) Anderson and Ryan Anderson. Additionally, he is survived by half-siblings: Edith (Norman) Nall, Robert Kubly and Herbert Kubly. He is further survived by two nieces and one nephew from his first marriage: Bette Wileman, Gloria Combs, and Richard Wallmow. He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Erna and Dorothy; brother, Robert Kilday; and nephew, Ed Ryan; and grandson-in-law, Richard Morton.
A heartfelt thank you to "Oyuna" Bayanbaatar and her family for their many years of devoted and loving caretaking, treating Gordon and his late wife, Dorothy, like family.
A Memorial Service will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL HOME, 2950 Chapel Valley Rd., Fitchburg, at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2015. Inurnment will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens. Visitation will be held at the FUNERAL HOME from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Fitchburg Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Rd
(608)442-5002
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