In 2009, Dick Gilbertsen was honored at the Cook County News-Herald staff Christmas party with a plaque that read, “In recognition and sincere appreciation of Dick Gilbertsen for his many years of service to the community, his dedication to the preservation of the history of Cook County, and his faithfulness to the Cook County News-Herald, 1948- 2000. With sincere thanks, Hal and Deidre Kettunen and past and current staff of the Cook County News-Herald.” We’ll miss you, Dick.
Always welcome at the Cook County News-Herald, working or retired, was our dear friend Richard “Dick” Gilbertsen. The News-Herald is deeply saddened by his passing on November 16, 2011.
Dick was one of the longest tenured News-Herald staffers, working for the community newspaper for over 50 years, starting at the paper just after graduation in 1948. He left the paper to serve in the Army during the Korean War. After two years of military service, Dick returned to Cook County— and his job at the News-Herald. He continued working at the News-Herald until 2000.
Gilbertsen started as a “printer’s devil,” or general handyman, and became a master typist, working on the linotype machine. As recently as April 2011, Gilbertsen was helping the News-Herald, coming to the paper’s 120th anniversary open house to share stories of the early days of the News- Herald.
All of us enjoyed hearing about his work with the printing equipment that used to be housed in the basement of the current News-Herald building. He recalled melting lead for the “pigs” to feed the machine in the basement and opening the lid to the lead container to skim the dross, the impurities, off.
All of us at the News-Herald will miss Dick’s wisdom and gentle humor, as well as his encouragement. We were blessed to have Dick Gilbertsen as a co-worker and as a mentor.
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