Gene Pauline Gilman

Chugiak resident Gene Pauline Gilman, 88, died at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center on Nov. 15, 2012.

A public visitation is 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Nov. 23 at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 1015 S. Check St., Wasilla. A funeral service is at 2 p.m., Nov. 24 at River of Life Lutheran Church, 21301 Voyles Blvd., Peters Creek. The Rev. Ted Carlson and Chaplain Bert McQueen will officiate.

Gene was born in Osborne, Kan., on April 8, 1924, and moved to Alaska in July 1968. Gene worked for Motorola from 1963-68, an Avon representative from 1970-2000, and a lunch lady at Clark, East and Chugiak schools from 1971-79. Gene formed and managed an Iditarod gift shop from 1978-86, and owned and operated her own business, The Sled Dog Shop, from 1986-96.

Gene was affiliated with the Girl Scouts of America, Pearl Harbor Survivors, Iditarod, Rondy, Parent Teacher Association, Chugiak Seniors, Rebekhas, American Legion and VFW.

March 11, 1975, Gene was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Park Board for work on the Nunaka Valley Park in a presentation made by Gov. Bill Egan.

“Gene’s interests were making the world a better place for everyone,” her family wrote. “She worked timelessly to these ends in myriad organizations, too many to include them all. She gave of herself to make the world a better place to live. She encouraged everyone to do the same. We will miss the woman who made a difference in all of our lives and the community.”

Preceding her in death were her sisters, Francis Katherine Simon and Mary Edith Koffski; mother, Lottie Florence Simon; father, Floyd Walter Simon; husband, Orville Jerome Gilman Jr.; and grandson, Harold Steven Bogda III.

Surviving are her daughter, Sandra Jones of Arizona; daughters and sons-in-law, Leslie and David Wheeler, Antoinette and Garry Bowley and Rocelyn and Tom Daniels, all of Alaska; sons and daughters-in-law, Orville and Deanna Gilman and Zachary and Elizabeth Gilman of Alaska; brother, Kenneth Simon of Arizona; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Alaska, Texas, Florida, Arizona, California, Kansas and Washington.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel.