Gilbert John Neumann 1919–2001

Gilbert John Neumann, 82, Bemidji, died Friday, July 13, 2001, at his home of pulmonary fibrosis. His funeral was at First Lutheran Church, Bemidji. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.

He was born July 12, 1919, in Bemidji to Christ and Mina (Lind) Neumann. Following the death of his father, his family moved to North St. Paul where he completed his school years. He married Phyllis Diltz in 1941 in Stillwater, Minn., and had three sons.

He served in the military from 1942 to 1945 and was discharged as a corporal. In 1947, he moved with his family to Bemidji and worked at various jobs. In 1948, he joined the Minnesota National Guard and served during the Korean Conflict. He was discharged from active duty in 1953 as a battalion sergeant major.

He married Lucille Pearson at Puposky April 24, 1954, and they had a son and a daughter. He was employed by the state of Minnesota as a driver's license evaluator in Bemidji from 1954 until he retired in 1981. He remained in Bemidji where he loved to hunt, fish, travel with his motor home and spend time with his family.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, John (Linda), Lithonia, Ga., Jerome (Joy), Mountain Iron, Minn., and Thomas (Bonnie), Bemidji; one daughter, Linda (Mark) Smythe, Bemidji; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.