Jimmylee George Gildea, 77, of Boone, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Ogden Manor Nursing Home in Ogden, Iowa.

Following cremation, there will be no services scheduled. A private family graveside service and burial will be in the Squire Boone Cemetery at a later date.

Jimmylee was born on February 20, 1934 in Worth Township in Boone County, near the upper part of the Ledges State Park. He was the son of Harry Everett and Alta Marie (Hoffman) Gildea.

Jimmylee attended the Boone High School. He entered into the U.S. Navy and served there for 7 years, 11 months, 26 days with the rank of ME 2nd. Class serving on the USS Menifee APA 202 near China, Korea, Guam, Japan and the Philipines. Jimmylee received his GED while in the Navy. After the Military he worked with the Ft. Dodge Des Moines Southern Railroad for over 3 years in Boone at the Road House as a Carman on the Rip track, doing welding on damaged cars. He moved to Osceola, Iowa and went to work as a plumber from 1958 to 1965, then from 1966 to 1977 he worked for Delevan Manufacturing in Des Moines, Iowa as a machine operator making parts for spray paint applicators. In 1977 he moved to Sunrise Beach, Missouri near Lake of the Ozarks. He was self-employed operating a plumbing business and also did water and sewer tests for a real estate company's properties. In 1988 he moved back to Boone to help his mother after she had three strokes and a pacemaker. He worked various jobs while in Boone, helping people.

He was life member of the VFW Post 817 of Boone and also a life member of the Hunt & Fish Club of Boone. He was a member of the American Legion Post 56 of Boone, a charter member of F.O.E. area 3495 (Fraternal Order of Eagles) of Osceola, Iowa.

Jimmylee enjoyed fishing and hunting for deer and turkey in Iowa and Missouri.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his grandson and his older brother Everett Lavern.

Surviving Jimmylee is his three children, Nannett Marie, Harry James, and Randy Lee Gildea and his wife Denise of Osceola, Iowa; his very special friend of 22 years, Loretta Bass of Boone; eight grandchildren including a grandson Jesse Gildea of Osceola, Iowa and two step-grandchildren Travis and Tara Shields; his five great grandchildren and his companion pet, Babe, a toy Rat Terrier.

Memorials may be directed to the family to be used at their discretion.

Walter ~ Schroeder Funeral Home located at Fifth & Story Streets in Boone is handling the arrangements.