Ivan W. Gwilt

Ivan W. Gwilt, 89, of Dowagiac, passed away Thursday, August 31, 2017 at Forest Glen Assisted Living in Dowagiac. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 326 N. Lowe St., Dowagiac with Rev. Jodi Cartwright officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 12 P.M. until 2 P.M. prior to the service at the church.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Dowagiac Lions Club or to Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. Those wishing to sign Ivan’s guestbook on line may do so at www.clarkch.com. Ivan was born August 28, 1928 in Dowagiac, MI to Ward and Pearl (Bailey) Gwilt. He graduated from Dowagiac Central High in 1947.  Immediately following graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country. Ivan married his first wife Donna Sanford on Nov.23, 1950 in Dowagiac, MI.  She preceded him in death on August 17, 1990. After her passing, he married Bernice Kammeraad Rector on July 6, 1991 in Dowagiac. He was Post Commander at Camp Grayling and retired at the rank of Colonel.  He served in the Army National Guard for 38 years.  During his service in the Army National Guard he was stationed throughout the state of Michigan. Ivan was a man of many talents; he was a barber at Percy Biedler’s barber shop, cabinet maker at Mastercraft Cabinets, loan officer at Grayling State Bank and the owner of Gwilt’s Party Store in Dowagiac.  Ivan was a Boy Scout in his younger years and served as a Scout Leader taking his scouts to the Scout Jamboree in 1953. He was also a referee for Michigan Jr .and Senior High Schools and Southwestern Michigan College athletic events. Ivan was the last of the founding members of the Indian Lake Fire Department. Ivan was a member of the Dowagiac Lions Club, Dowagiac Elks Lodge #889, Dowagiac Moose Lodge #933, the Dowagiac American Legion, the National Guard Association and the Shriners Elf-Khurafeh Shrine. Ivan spent his retirement years traveling around the United States where he visited 49 of the 50 states. He was an avid fisherman, deer hunter and enjoyed the game of golf.  Ivan was a very social person always kidding and telling jokes creating plenty of laughter.  He loved being around family and friends.   He and Bernice would take all the grandchildren on annual camping trips, hosted family reunions, and cooked at Lions club projects. Ivan is survived by his wife Bernice (Kammeraad Rector) Gwilt of Dowagiac; his children, Jere Gwilt of Grand Rapids, Amy (Bob) Rinck of Belmont, Mary Gwilt of Grand Rapids, Kim (Cathy)Gwilt of Grand Ledge, Don (Natalie) Rector of Marshall, Patricia Diane (Ed) Klapchuk of Dowagiac, David (Deb) Rector of Chandler, AZ. and Dale (Kellie) Rector of Kona, Hawaii; 13 grand children; 16 great-grandchildren and his sister, Donna Lillie of Dowagiac. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Donna; his siblings, Esther Bennett, Evelyn Kopaceski, Beva Krizinski and Doris Diamond. The family would like to give special thanks to Forest Glen Assisted Living for their kind and loving care of Ivan the last two years, and to SouthernCare Hospice Services.