Gilbert P. Stallbaumer, 79, of Seneca, Kansas, died Monday, July 13, 2009 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

He was born on November 2, 1929 in Baileyville, Kansas to Allie and Frances Luckeroth Stallbaumer. He grew up in St. Benedict and attended Clear Creek Country School and graduated from the 8th grade at St. Benedict School. He attended one year at Baileyville High School, before helping his father on the farm.

On February 3, 1951 he married Teresa M. Mulryan at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. The young couple continued to live and farm in the St. Benedict community; when Gilbert’s folks decided to retire he took over their farming operation and also began custom silage cutting. They lived on the Stallbaumer family farm from December of 1955 until December of 1992, when they retired and moved to Seneca.

Gilbert was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Joseph’s Society at the church in Seneca, and a former member of St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict, where he served on the church council. He was a board member and past chairman of the Rural Water District #3; and received his Third Degree from the Knights of Columbus in 1969. In his retirement he enjoyed collecting toy John Deere tractors and restoring actual John Deere tractors. He also helped as as a part-time driver for Honeyman Ford and Koch & Company.

Gilbert is survived by his wife Teresa of the home; his daughters, Joyce (Cyril) Schmitz of Baileyville, Judy (Michael) Powers of Marion, Barb (David) Engelken of Seneca, and Bonnie Eisenbarth of Seneca; his sons, Dale (Jacque) Stallbaumer of Sabetha and Joe (Sharon) Stallbaumer of Leawood; two sisters, Irene Niekamp and Dorothy Heiman, both of Seneca; 20 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter Mary on August 7, 1952; his brothers Mark and Eugene Stallbaumer; and a son-in-law, Daniel “Izzy” Eisenbarth on July 22, 2008.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM Wednesday, July 15, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Tuesday, July 14, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Gilbert’s memory for Nemaha Valley Hospital and St. Mary’s Grotto, and sent in care of the family.