Donald W. Gilcher, Jr., 63, of Montpelier passed away early Wednesday morning at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on June 27, 1951 in Bryan to Donald W. and Joann J. (Sidle) Gilcher, Sr. Don graduated from Hilltop High School in 1969. He then attended Tri State in Angola, Indiana for 2 years. He proudly served his country in the United States Army Reserve National Guard.
Don worked at Powers and Sons for 21 years. He was also a Police Officer for the Village of Montpelier. Don also worked as a Williams County EMS Medic with his daughters for 10 years and as a fireman with the Montpelier Fire Department.
He is survived by his father Donald Sr. of Montpelier; two daughters, Kelly (fiancé Robert Hollstein, Jr.) Buchanan of Montpelier and Amy Jo Lynn (T.J. Wilson) Travis of Montpelier; one brother, Richard B. Gilcher of Montpelier; two sisters, ElvaJo (Skip) Treace of Montpelier and NitaJo (Vivek) Lachke of Montpelier; six grandchildren, PFC Jakob, Dalton and Miranda Buchanan, and Jerika, Jenna and Jaelynn Hollstein; and three great grandchildren, Kahle Thompson, Kayson Buchanan and Lyrk Van Dyke; many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Don was preceded in death by his mother Joann, brother-in-law Fred Laforet, Sr. and nephew Fred Laforet, Jr.
Visitation for Don will be on Saturday, April 11th from 5-9pm and Sunday from 12-2pm at the Thompson Funeral Home on Main Street in Montpelier. Services will be on Sunday at 2pm at the funeral home with Pastor Ron Evans to officiate. Interment will follow at Shiffler Cemetery in rural Bryan with military rites provided by the Montpelier Veterans.
Donations may be given to the Williams County Veterans Memorial Building or to the Wounded Warriors Project. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.thethomsponfuneralhome.com.
