Obituary of Evelyn Gillquist

Evelyn Gillquist, 91, of Cambridge passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2009 at GracePointe Crossing West (Grandview), on the same wing she worked on for 18 years as a nursing assistant.. She was born September 12, 1917 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Evelyn grew up in Minneapolis where she attended grade school. As a young teen she contracted polio and was hospitalized for one year. She would later work for different families, caring for their children and doing housework. She met Albin Gillquist in Minneapolis and they were married on February 19, 1945. Albin was a plasterer by trade but liked to try his hand at different things and Evelyn was content to follow him and work by his side. Before becoming a nursing assistant, she and Al owned a resort in Bena and the Mankato Ice Company. They also lived in Braham and Minneapolis before settling in Cambridge. Albin passed away on June 23, 1973 and Evelyn continued to work at Grandview until retirement in 1984. She was a great caregiver. She enjoyed working with the elderly and her co-workers. Evelyn remained at home up until a few weeks before her passing with the help of her good friends, the Sailer family. Evelyn enjoyed fishing with Albin, especially walleyes, spending time with friends and family, reading, watching old movies and westerns where she knew all the names of the actors and actresses. She loved to watch the Minnesota Twins and knew all the players' names. She loved watching the Discovery and History channels; she was very aware of current events and always watched the evening news. She had strong opinions about what was going on in the world today. Evelyn especially enjoyed dining out and loved going to the Brass Rail in Grandy for chicken. She was preceded in death by her husband Albin, mother Gerda and sister Myrtle Whitford. Evelyn is survived by her niece Elaine Schmitz husband Dan of Priest River, ID, and Elaine's children Randy Kammer of Oceanside, CA, and Sharon Strickland of Apple Valley, CA, one cousin Helen Swan of San Jose, CA, and other relatives, as well as her special friends Russel and Cheryl Sailer and their children Mark and Kristen of Cambridge.