Tributes & Stories

Find an Obituary

The obituary news listed on this page is provided by newspapers and from funeral homes only:

 

Obituary (IL): Gilbert Norman Albrecq '49

Posted on 08/02/2018

Gilbert Norman Albrecq  (Jan 2, 1925 -- July 21, 2018)

Gilbert Norman Albrecq, a 93-year old resident of Bakersfield, CA passed away on July 21, 2018 at his home with his daughter Diana Albrecq Fortin, son Kenneth Jesse Albrecq, Gil's current wife and her daughter.

Gil was born January 2, 1925 in Roseville, IL and spent the majority of his life living in the Santa Clarita Valley in California. He enlisted in the Navy during WWII and served on the USS Sturgeon (SS-187), a Salmon-class submarine, under T/Cdr. Charlton Lewis Murphy, who appointed him to the Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.

He married Anita Mae Butler Albrecq and went into farming in Wheeler Ridge, CA with Anita's father, Jesse Manley Butler. He always talked about the farming days and how much he loved those days and the friendships he made that would last a lifetime, especially Costa Delis

After the passing of Mr. Butler, Gil and Anita opened the Golden Oak Golf Course in Newhall, CA until the flood of 1969. Gil loved playing golf and played in several pro-amateur tournaments in Pebble Beach and was a member of the Crystalaire Country Club, Llano, CA where he and his son Charles, along with several friends, golfed frequently. After the flood, Gil opened up a real estate office in the same location that had previously been the Pro Shop of his golf course.

Gil and Charles bought a horse ranch, Meadow Creek Ranch, in Auburn, CA where he raised quarter horses and raced at Los Alamitos. When he retired, he moved to Lake Isabella and then to Bakersfield.

Gil will forever be in our hearts and will always be remembered for his funny comments, love of women, golfing, playing cards, horseracing, farming, and real estate.

Gil was predeceased by his parents, Gilbert Joseph Albrecq, Hazel Beatrice Sloan Albrecq; brother and sisters: Leah, Robert and Alice; best friend and son, Charles Butler Albrecq; and wife of over 30 years, Anita Mae Butler Albrecq.

The surviving Albrecq family are his daughter, Diana Albrecq Fortin and fiancé Todd Robinson, his son Kenneth Albrecq and wife Julie, and daughter-in-law Bev Albrecq. His grandchildren: Tammy Hutten and husband Bill, Gary Howard and wife Lynn and her two girls Taylor and Rachel, Kimberly Albrecq and son Teldrick, Jesse Albrecq and wife Caylene, Sean Albrecq and wife Lexie, Ryan Albrecq and wife Kristy, and Brittany Albrecq. His great-grandchildren: Cody Howard, Tyler Hutten, Armani Hutten, Haylee Albrecq, Kayden Albrecq and Harper Albrecq.

The Albrecq family would like to thank all the staff at Hoffmann Hospice and the volunteers who were so wonderful during the last few months of Gil's life. In addition, thank you to the Veterans Bakersfield and Los Angeles Clinics and especially to Zeke Chacon, Mike Sprague, Brenda Via, and Dr. Kathryn Henick and the staff at CBCC, Bakersfield and especially Dr. Shekar and Beatris for all their help during these last 4 1/2 years. "You made his daughter's life so much easier in dealing with her Dad's illness."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Gil's memory be made to Veterans Association, Hoffmann Hospice, Fisher House, or MPN Research.

A Celebration of Gil's life will be held in Santa Barbara and Pebble Beach.

The Signal, August 4, 2018

Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.signalscv.com

***

Gilbert Norman Albrecq  (Jan 2, 1925 July 21, 2018)

Gilbert passed away at the age of 93 from complications of myelofibrosis & leukemia. His beloved wife, Patricia, his daughter, Shelley Neel & his son, Kenny Albrecq were with him when he left this world. Gilbert was born in Danville, Illinois, & was the oldest of 4 siblings. His mother was Hazel Sloan of Kentucky & his father was Gilbert Albrecq of Forges, Belgium. He was so intelligent, kind, funny & generous with everyone he cared about. He never knew a stranger. Gil had a zest for life that never ceased & he never shied away from any new project that struck his fancy. His family moved to California in 1940, which then became his "home-state" until he passed away. He had a varied assortment of employment throughout his life, & always boasted that he'd never had a "real" job. He joined the service in 1942 & was a navy submariner during WWll. And, because, as a 17 year old, he fixed a broken piece of machinery on the sub, he was sent to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. When he returned to California, he farmed in the Weed Patch area of Bakersfield for several years, then built & ran the first golf course in the Santa Clarita valley. He learned to play golf at that time & he carried a 0-2 handicap for years. After the golf course was destroyed by the flood of 1969, he decided to try his hand at real estate & opened his own office in Newhall. Upon meeting his future wife, Patricia Basset in 1971, they evolved from home sales into real estate development, including the creation of new subdivisions, small retail centers, storage buildings & the designing & building of custom homes. In the 1990's, Gil bought a 227 acre horse ranch in Auburn, California, where he bred & raised racing quarter horses. He was a tireless worker & he loved everything there was about "Meadow Creek Ranch" & its 63 mares & foals. In 2007, to be closer to family, Gil & Pat moved south to Lake Isabella & then to Bakersfield. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, his son Kenny (Julie), his daughter, Shelley & numerous grandchildren & great grandchildren. He also leaves behind his oldest friend of 70 years, Costa Delis & Patrick Kouri, who Gil loved as though he was another son. He was predeceased by his mother, father, sister Alice, sister Leah, brother Robert & his son Charles. We give thanks to Hoffman Hospice and the wonderful care they provided. Anna, Lia, April & Joe Castro were so kind & helpful in a very difficult time. There will be no service.

Obituarydata.com