LAUREL — Gilmer William Stark, 95, Laurel, died Sept. 9, 2024, at Faith Regional Hospital, Norfolk.

Funeral services were Sept. 14 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Laurel, with the Rev. Jeffery Warner officiating.

Burial was at the Laurel cemetery with military honors by the Laurel American Legion Post 54 and the Laurel VFW Post #4504.

Pallbearers were Russell Nitzschke, Tate Cunningham, Jared Nitzschke, Shane Stark, Justin Stark and Jerry Johnson.

Visitation was Friday, at church and one hour prior to services on Saturday.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel.

Gilmer was born Oct. 25, 1928, in Martinsburg, to Ewald and Bertha (Koeppe) Stark. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Martinsburg. He attended elementary and two years of high school at Trinity Lutheran Parochial, Martinsburg, and then graduated from Ponca High School in 1946. Gilmer served in the U.S. Army in Korea for nine months during the Korean War from Jan. 11, 1952 to Sept. 13, 1953. He received his training in Virginia, San Antonio, Texas, and Denver, Colo. Gilmer married Mary Frances Bogenrief Dec. 15, 1951, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Newcastle. He farmed near Newcastle, then moved to Sioux City, Iowa, for four years where he worked in manufacturing and then drove an Omar Bread delivery truck. They returned to farming north of Laurel in 1960, then a year later moved to the present farm, raising cattle and hogs, milking cows and planting crops, where Gilmer and Mary retired. Mary died April 13, 2023, at the age of 91.

Gilmer enjoyed farming, bowling and playing cards. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Laurel American Legion Post 54 and VFW Post #4504.

Gilmer loved and enjoyed being with his family. Gilmer is survived by his six children and spouses, Marlene (Stephan) Swanson, Lincoln; Carol (Jay) Nitzschke, Remsen, Iowa; Patti (Toby) Cunningham, Laurel; Susan (Mark) Koch, Laurel; Steven Stark, Laurel; and Alan (Tiffany) Stark, Wakefield; 17 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, James Bogenrief; and sister-in-law, Kathy North.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary; three siblings, Verna Domsch, Arnim Stark and Wilmer Stark; sisters-in-law, Lila Stark and Clarice Stark.