Joseph Elwood Gilson

Joseph Gilson, 84, of Grand Ledge, Michigan passed away peacefully on May 26, 2024. He was born in Sacramento, California on July 26, 1939 to Elwood and Bernice Gilson. At the age of thirteen, he entered the Franciscan Seminary in Santa Barbara, California. While in the seminary he graduated from high school, college, and completed two years of Theology. In 1966 he received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University at Sacramento. His Social Work career spanned 45 years. This included prison work with young adults in California; providing services in an outpatient drug rehabilitation program in Seattle, Washington; counselor in an inpatient & outpatient addictions program; and coordinating a Methadone maintenance program. In 1974 he joined Department of Veterans Affairs in Tacoma, Washington. He worked as an inpatient psychiatric social worker; supervised an outpatient community care program; and served as acting chief of the social work department. In 1987 he served as the Chief, Social Work Service at the VA outpatient Service in Columbus, Ohio. He also served as the Chief of the Domiciliary program in Dayton, Ohio; and Chief, Social Work Service in Madison, Wisconsin. During his career he was active in the national and local branches of the Social Work Directors in Health Care. Following his VA career, he worked as a Disaster Assistance Employee for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He was deployed for various natural disasters approximately twice a year until retiring in 2011. While living in Seattle he met and fell in love with Jane. They were married in Lansing, Michigan on December 27, 1983 in the farm house where Jane grew up. They were married for 40 years Both he and Jane enjoyed traveling and shared many adventures together. He loved music and sang in choral groups since the eighth grade. He belonged to the Michigan State University Choral Union, the Steiner Chorale, and the Lansing Area Men’s Ecumenical choral group. He also sang in several church choirs. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernice and Elwood Gilson; sisters, Maureen Braeden, and Nancy Olivas, brother-in-law, Bill Badella, and sister-in-law, Freida Schneeberger. He is survived by his wife Jane, his sister, Joanne Badella, brothers-in-law, Cecil Braeden, Lou Olivas, Tom (Katherine) and John Schneeberger; 11 nieces and 3 nephews and several great nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of Elara Caring Hospice and Fairview Adult Foster Care for the wonderful care and support they provided Joseph. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 1, 2024, 11:00 AM at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 210 W. Saginaw Highway, Grand Ledge, Michigan 48837 with The Reverend Dr. Laura Miller-Purrenhage, officiating. You may watch the memorial service for Joseph at 11:00 am Saturday at this link, meeting ID, and passcode: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83115569271?pwd=6TDx3oluXVmTmltMfjovGb5H2wxeS6.1 Meeting ID: 831 1556 9271 and Passcode: 267542. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the College of Music Advancement Office Michigan State University, Music Building, Choral Society, Code AE0611, 333 W. Circle Drive, Room 105, East Lansing, Michigan 48823 (https://givingto.msu.edu/gift/), Grand Ledge First Congregational United Church of Christ , or Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program (GLEAP), P.O. Box 402, Grand Ledge, Michigan 48837. Arrangements by the Holihan-Atkin-Barclay Funeral Home, Grand Ledge. Share your memories and condolences online at www.holihanatkin.com

Joseph Elwood Gilson

July 26, 1939 - May 26, 2024