Enlistment December 29, 1950
Discharge December 10, 1954
Gilbert Louis Bandow was born on March 4, 1930 on a farm in East Boyer Township, the son of Louis and Adele Jaeger Bandow. He died on Tuesday October 26, 1999, at the Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at the age of 69.
Gil was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. He attended Country School and the Manilla High School. In December of 1950, Gilbert entered the United States Air Force where he served his country for four years.
He was united in marriage to Corrine Aldag on April 17, 1951, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. The couple was blessed with the birth of three children; Rhonda, Jeff and Kerry. The couple settled in Spokane, Washington, where Gil was stationed, as a crane operator until he was sent to French Morocco, where he was stationed for thirteen months. During this period Gil was a member of the Special Weapons Strategic Air Command, specializing in atomic weapons, during the Korean Conflict. The last nine months of his Air Force career were spent at Fairchild Air Force Base.
In March of 1955, the couple moved back to Gil's family farm in East Boyer, where Gil was born and raised. Gil and Co trine remained on their farm until 1995, when they moved to Manilla. Gil was a dedicated farmer. Recently, he told his grandchildren about how much he loved farming; especially when spring came and he would work the fields and enjoy the smell of the soil. Gil was partial to International farm machinery and his Ford pickup.
He enjoyed bowling and was very involved with the Manilla Saddle Club. He also enjoyed spending time with his faithful companion, Skeeter, his Cocker Spaniel dog. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, the Manning VFW, and the American Legion Post of Manilla. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather, as family was very important to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Elsie Bandow in infancy; and Ella Bandow; and one brother, August Bandow.
He is survived by his wife, Corrine; one daughter, Rhonda Bandow Javor and her husband Paul of Amherst, Ohio; two sons, Jeff Bandow of Indianola, Iowa; and Kerry Bandow of Manilla; four grandchildren, Jon and Megan Javor; and Nathan and Jill Bandow; one brother, Edward Bandow of Denison; and one sister, Arlene Jahn of Manilla; many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Friday, October 29, 1999, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. Rev. Kurt Kaiser officiated the service and grave side rites held at the Nishnabotna Cemetery in Manilla, Iowa.
Karen Kahl provided the organ accompaniment for soloist Larry Boeck who sang "Rock of Ages", and "Amazing Grace", and for congregational hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God". Those serving as honorary pallbearers were: the Manilla Saddle Club, Mike's Bowling Team, Megan Javor and Jill Bandow.
Those serving as pallbearers were: Rob Rauterkus, Nathan Bandow, Nyle Gruhn, Gary A. Hall, Jon Javor, and Darin Ferry. The family invited everyone in attendance to join them in fellowship and lunch at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla served by the Priscilla Guild.
The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.