Ivan Gilbaugh

Ivan Gilbaugh was born July 10, 1924 in Ft. Morgan to Ivan Gilbaugh Sr. and Celia Bey Gilbaugh. During his high school years, he was very successful in wrestling, becoming a three time state champion at Ft. Morgan High School. He continued his successful wrestling career on a wrestling scholarship his first year in college at CSCE, now the University of Northern Colorado, where he was conference champion. On March 15, 1944 he enlisted in the Navy. He served as an Aviation Ordinanceman 3rd Class (turret gunner) on an Avenger aircraft off the USS Anzio. They were 400 miles from Tokyo Bay when the first atomic bomb was dropped and the war ended shortly thereafter. He was honorably discharged on June 2, 1946. On October 28, 1945 he married Marian Nickel, with whom he had two daughters, Gail and Cindy. They later divorced. After his discharge, he returned to CSCE where he continued his wrestling career and earned three more conference championships. He earned a Bachelor's degree in 1948, taking advantage of the schooling provided by the G.I. bill. He began a successful coaching and teaching career at Greeley (Central) High School. He earned a Master's degree, also from CSCE in 1958. After several years of coaching and teaching, he operated a crop dusting business for a time before returning to teaching for a few more years. Ivan began a long and successful career in Real Estate on May 4, 1964 which he concluded with his retirement in 2000. He owned and operated the Gilbaugh Agency for over 30 years. A few highlights of his real estate career include his receiving the 1967 Realtor of the Year award, service as Vice President of the local board and of the Colorado Association of Real Estate Boards. On May 11, 1972 he married Joanne (Snyder) Mawson and acquired three more children (Lori, Rick and Crystal Mawson). The new family purchased a farm 2 miles east of Eaton, where Ivan fulfilled a life-long dream of breeding, raising and showing Appaloosa horses. He also started a small subdivision on the west side of the farm known as Gilbaugh's Appaloosa Acres. Ivan was always a dedicated community servant. He relished the role of "Champion of the Underdog." Over the years he served as Chairman of the Board of Osteopathic Memorial Hospital, member of the Weld County Commissioner Advisory Council, Weld County Cancer Crusade Chairman in 1970 and 1971 and was voted "Volunteer of the Year" in 1970. He served as president of the Greeley Quarterback Club for two years, was a commissioner of the Weld County Boy Scouts of America, was a Board Director of Weld County YMCA, Vice president of the Greeley Junior Chamber of Commerce, President of La Junta Jr. Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the Greeley Moose Lodge and T -Bone Club. He volunteered with the Humane Society. He was most proud of the two years he gave to the establishment of what is now the Youth Sports Complex in Greeley, securing the donation of the land and many major financial gifts. He also learned that application could be made to the Army Corps of Engineers for free engineering if the request was approved, which it was! His love of the land compelled him to serve for three years on the Weld County Noxious Weed Control Committee. He was instrumental in securing a federal matching funds grant for Weld, Morgan and Larimer counties to fund spraying of noxious weeds. Ivan and Joanne purchased a cabin in the Glen Haven area in 1996 and became members of Mountain View Bible Fellowship in Estes Park in 2000. His love of animals was legendary and carried over to the animals in the mountains. Ivan and Joanne enjoyed immensely working on the cabin and the grounds. Cactus, bind weed, mullins and stray Canadian thistle were no match for his fervor. His work ethic was prodigious, amazing all the men folk in the family that he could out-dig, out-lift and out-last most of them well into his 70's. The remodel of the interior of the cabin was one of approximately 20 remodels they did over the years for fun and profit. He is survived by his daughter Gail and son-in-law Mick Holmes, daughter Cindy and son-in-law Doug Max, daughter Lori and son-in-law Larry Daniel, a son Richard Mawson and daughter-in- law Cheri and daughter Crystal and son-in-law John Hall, as well as 19 grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Jackie Gilbaugh. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, John and Robert, and two sisters, Ruby and Mabel. A funeral service to celebrate Ivan’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at the First United Presbyterian Church, 1321 9th Avenue in Greeley. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Northern Colorado or to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Moser Funeral Service, 3501 S. 11th Avenue, Evans, Colorado 80620.

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Ivan Gilbaugh

July 10, 1924 - November 17, 2006