Gilbert A. Douglass, age 89, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Saturday, January 28, 2006 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Funeral Service for Mr. Douglass will be held Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, with Reverend Tom Hinshaw officiating. Burial will be in the Storm Lake Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home in Storm Lake from 5-7:00 pm on Monday, January 30, 2006, where family will be present. 

Gilbert Arthur Douglass was born on October 24, 1916 at Akron, Iowa to Leo A. and Helen Mae (Webster) Douglass.  He received his education at Storm Lake Schools, graduating in 1934.  Following graduation, Gilbert attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake and Kemper Military Academy in Boonville, Missouri.  He served his country with the U.S. Air Force.

On May 22, 1955, Gilbert was united in marriage to Pauline Mudge at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They raised their family in Storm Lake.  Gilbert’s parents started Douglass Clothing in 1910, where he was ever-present.  He would eventually own and operate the family store for the next 60 plus years.  Gilbert was active in his community, belonging to various organizations: Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts #104 of Storm Lake and Serpaci (charter member). He was also a member of the First Baptist Church in Storm Lake and a member of the choir.  Gilbert was very proud of his Scottish heritage.

In 1994, Gilbert retired from his clothing store.  He will be remembered as a good kind man, who was very generous and a true “gentleman”.  Never a harsh word crossed his lips. He carried a Christian attitude, respected his family and friends and cherished the time spent with them.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Pauline of Storm Lake; daughter, Barbara Douglass of Storm Lake; step-children, Dr. Ronald Dreyer and his wife Jerilyn of Denison and Janet Dreyer-Johnson and her husband Ken of Cedar City, Utah; grandchild, Michelle Nebeker; step-grandchildren: Brent Dreyer, Jessie Dreyer-Burk, Bill Grieme, Janelle Grieme; great-grandchildren: Erin, Jason, Evan, Natalie, Mercedes, Kevin and Stephanie; many other relatives and a host of friends.

Gilbert was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Helen Douglass.