Gilbert A. Baber

Gil Baber, 83, of Owensboro, died Friday, June 28, 2013 at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IN. Gil was born, Gilbert Alfred Baber, January 11, 1930 in Milwaukee, WI to the late Alfred and Mary (Denda) Baber. After graduating high school in Milwaukee, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in a remote communications base in Alaska during the Korean War. He was a commercial and residential contractor from 1950 to 1970, and then became an energy industry entrepreneur in the Illinois Basin, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio, and the Alabama Black Warrior Basin. He was the owner and CEO of Owensboro based Venture Drilling Corporation, 1973 to 1992. He was a proud member of the NRA.
Gil, an accomplished fresh water fisherman, enjoying many hours of fishing with his family members. He put out an annual vegetable and rose garden.
He was generous with his time and talents as the family handyman and artisanal bread baker. His family enjoyed the fact that his greatest pleasure was spending time with them and sharing his gifts. Surviving is his loving wife of 60 years, Evelyn (Polczinski ) Baber, daughter, Jeanne (Gene) Pfeiffer of Evansville, son, Gilbert (Sherry) Baber of Owensboro, daughter, Sandra (Dr. Jeff ) Schoen of Louisville, and a son, Mark Baber of Louisville, grandchildren, Matthew Baber, Graham Shoen, Melissa Baber, Cara Schoen, Colette Pfeiffer, Alexa Rowe, Eric Schoen and Christian Schoen, step-grandchildren, Andrea Siener, and Brandon Pfeiffer, and a brother, Jeff (Carol) Baber of Fernandino, FL.
Memorial services will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, with Dr. Paul Strahan officiating. Visitation will be 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday.