Obituary for Donald Eugene "Butch" Gillum
Gillum, Donald E. “Butch”, age 65 of Bloomington, MN passed away on October 18, 2019. He was a devoted family man, a 20+ year employee of the Bloomington Police Department and a retired Chief of the Bloomington Fire Department.
A lover of wildlife and the outdoors - camping, fishing, hunting and boating, he often spent his free time with family at the lake. He loved nature, football, NASCAR and powdered donuts. His dogs were always his side-kicks and his drink of choice was Canadian Club. He was both a quiet man and the one getting everyone riled up at a gathering. He loved to goof around and play jokes on others, and his belly laugh was contagious and unforgettable.
Forever ingrained in Butch was his desire to help. He always put his needs last, and loved offering a helping hand to his co-workers, friends, neighbors and of course his family. As an emergency responder, it didn’t matter what he was doing - if the tones came through, he was already one foot out the door. It didn’t matter who you were - family or a complete stranger - if someone needed help, he was there. He was the one you’d want around in an emergency. Butch always knew what to do, would instantly take control of the situation and somehow manage to calm everyone down.
His family meant the world to him and he constantly talked about how lucky he was that we were such a close group. The moment he found out he was going to be a Grandpa, he blossomed in that role. His three grandkids couldn’t get enough of him and it was apparent he’d do anything to make them happy. At his core, he was both a helper and family man.
Preceded in death by parents, Donald and Patricia Gillum. Survived by loving wife of 40 years, Nancy; children Becky (Jordan) Wegwerth and Jen (Dan) Kennedy; grandchildren, Morgan, Evelyn and Norah; siblings, Deb (Steve) Repasky and Duane (Kari Lippert) Gillum; many extended relatives, friends, and his fire and police family.
Visitation Thursday, 10/24/19 from 4-7 pm at Gill Brothers Funeral Home, 9947 Lyndale Ave S, Bloomington, MN. Funeral Service Friday, 10/25/19 at 11 am (visitation at 10 am) at Bloomington Lutheran Church, 9350 Portland Ave S, Bloomington, MN.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Minnesota Fire Service Foundation.
A lover of wildlife and the outdoors - camping, fishing, hunting and boating, he often spent his free time with family at the lake. He loved nature, football, NASCAR and powdered donuts. His dogs were always his side-kicks and his drink of choice was Canadian Club. He was both a quiet man and the one getting everyone riled up at a gathering. He loved to goof around and play jokes on others, and his belly laugh was contagious and unforgettable.
Forever ingrained in Butch was his desire to help. He always put his needs last, and loved offering a helping hand to his co-workers, friends, neighbors and of course his family. As an emergency responder, it didn’t matter what he was doing - if the tones came through, he was already one foot out the door. It didn’t matter who you were - family or a complete stranger - if someone needed help, he was there. He was the one you’d want around in an emergency. Butch always knew what to do, would instantly take control of the situation and somehow manage to calm everyone down.
His family meant the world to him and he constantly talked about how lucky he was that we were such a close group. The moment he found out he was going to be a Grandpa, he blossomed in that role. His three grandkids couldn’t get enough of him and it was apparent he’d do anything to make them happy. At his core, he was both a helper and family man.
Preceded in death by parents, Donald and Patricia Gillum. Survived by loving wife of 40 years, Nancy; children Becky (Jordan) Wegwerth and Jen (Dan) Kennedy; grandchildren, Morgan, Evelyn and Norah; siblings, Deb (Steve) Repasky and Duane (Kari Lippert) Gillum; many extended relatives, friends, and his fire and police family.
Visitation Thursday, 10/24/19 from 4-7 pm at Gill Brothers Funeral Home, 9947 Lyndale Ave S, Bloomington, MN. Funeral Service Friday, 10/25/19 at 11 am (visitation at 10 am) at Bloomington Lutheran Church, 9350 Portland Ave S, Bloomington, MN.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Minnesota Fire Service Foundation.