Gwen Eilers
Gwen Carole Wilson Eilers of Luana died Friday, July 23, 2021 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Visitation will be held Sunday, August 8 from 3-5 p.m. at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona. A private burial will be held Monday, August 9.
Gwen was born May 3, 1942 in Palmer, AK to Carl and Edithbelle (Heller) Wilson. From Palmer, the family moved to Fairbanks, AK. In 1954, Gwen’s parents moved her and her two brothers, Rocky and Terry, to Chena Hot Springs, AK, traveling through wilderness and over mountains. She and her brothers were homeschooled by Edithbelle for a time. Gwen went to high school in Fairbanks and graduated from there. She attended college, beginning in Fairbanks and finishing at the Oklahoma College for Women, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Music, specializing in the piano.
Gwen spent a good portion of her childhood growing up in the Alaskan bush while her family owned and maintained the Chena Hot Springs Resort. She wrote about her unique experiences while living at the Springs and published her memoir in 2019. She was very proud of her book and being able to share her experiences and stories. She has always been proud of her heritage and how it taught her to be fearless and independent.
While teaching elementary music in Lawton, OK, Gwen met Dennis Eilers. They were married at Chena Hot Springs October 20, 1968. The couple has two sons, Jon and David. The family lived in various places around the United States. Gwen raised her sons and took care of the family while working in various places wherever they lived. She was always proud of the fact that she raised two independent, capable boys.
Eventually, she and Dennis moved to the Eilers family farm in Luana. Besides working on her book, Gwen also enjoyed working on family genealogy and history. She helped Dennis run The Iowa Photo Farm, Inc. She was an active member in the Clayton County Republican Party for many years. She also enjoyed gardening, ceramics, playing cards, and of course, music, especially playing the piano. She was a fantastic cook, and her family always enjoyed being together for meals, especially for the holidays. She loved to laugh and have fun.
Survivors include her sons, Jon Eilers and David (Brianne) Eilers; her brother, Rocky (Sandy) Wilson; her sisters-in-law, Eileen (Tony) Dudek, Anita (Paul) Langholz and Denise Eilers; her brothers-in-law, Jim Orr and Bill Bertrand; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Terry; her husband, Dennis; her sister-in-law, Karen Orr; her brother-in-law, Gerald Eilers; her sister-in-law, Margaret Rose (Eilers) Bertrand; and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty Catherine and Steve Gysendorfer.
