Fay Gillham

   Fay H. Gillham, 93 of St. Paul, passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at Brookefield Park in St. Paul.

    Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Monday, November 27, 2017 at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul. Pastor Bonnie Brock will be officiating. Interment will be in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Scotia, NE. Military Honors will be provided by the Scotia American Legion Honor Guard & the U.S. Navy Honors Team.

     Visitation will be from 10:30 - 11:00 AM on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Scotia Volunteer Fire Dept.

     Fay was born on October 8, 1924 to Ruby and Jess Gillham of Greeley, Nebraska.  One of six children, Fay attended Greeley school until the seventh grade, when his parents moved to Scotia, Nebraska.  He completed high school in 1943 and entered the United States Navy where he served as a radar man on the naval destroyer USS Preston in the South Pacific.

     After returning home from the war in 1945, he briefly worked in the Scotia tavern, owned by his parents.  A year later, he began working as a carpenter for 20 years before accepting a position as high school custodian at the Scotia High School.  He enjoyed dancing and met his future bride, Lavona Silk, at a dance in Dannebrog, Nebraska.  The couple was married on February 13, 1950.  To this union were born three children, Gary, Linda, and Greg.  Fay was active in the American Legion frequently helping with the summer baseball program.  He and Lavona were annual boosters for the Scotia Homecoming annual celebration by selling raffle tickets and helping with many floats.  The couple enjoyed dancing to country music and would often visit the Grand Island Vets Home to entertain retired veterans.  Fay retired from his custodial position after 20 years of service at the age of 64.  The couple sold their Scotia home and moved to St. Paul in 2009.

     He is preceded in death by his wife, Lavona; son, Gary; parents, Ruby and Jess Gillham; 2 sisters, Irene (Gillham) Murphy and Loretta (Gillham) Schmidt; and 3 brothers, Leo, Gerald, and Raymond.  

     He is survived by his daughter, Linda (Mike) Sabin of Lincoln; son, Greg (Sheri) of Gretna, Nebraska; 3 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

     Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.jacobsengreenway.com

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