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Gilbert Esau
Gilbert D. Esau.jpg
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 18A district
In office
January 8, 1963 – January 6, 1969
Preceded by Sam Franz
Succeeded by George Mann
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 28A district
In office
January 2, 1973 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by George Mann
Succeeded by George Mann
Personal details
Born
Gilbert D. Esau

(1919-10-31)October 31, 1919
Mountain Lake, Minnesota
Died July 16, 2012(2012-07-16) (aged 92)
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Political party Republican Party of Minnesota
Spouse Carol (Herman) Esau
Children 5
Residence Mountain Lake, Minnesota
Occupation Business owner, politician, veteran, lay pastor

Gilbert Donald Esau (October 31, 1919 – July 16, 2012) was an important person from Minnesota. He was a politician who helped make laws for the state. He was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, which is a group of elected people who work together to create laws.

Gilbert Esau was first elected in 1962. He was re-elected several times in the 1960s. After a short break, he ran again in 1972 and served for many more years until 1983.

About Gilbert Esau

Gilbert Esau grew up in a town called Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Before he became a politician, he owned a shop that fixed cars.

Serving in World War II

Gilbert Esau was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He served during World War II from 1941 to 1945. He traveled far from home to serve in both Europe and Asia.

Local Community Work

Before he joined the state government, Gilbert Esau was active in his local community. He was a member of the Mountain Lake Village Council. This council helped make decisions for his hometown from 1954 to 1963.

His Time in the Minnesota House

Gilbert Esau represented different areas of southwestern Minnesota. These areas included parts of Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, and Redwood counties. The areas he represented changed a bit after 1972.

He was known as one of the longest-serving lawmakers from southern Minnesota. He worked alongside other important politicians like George Mann.

What He Cared About

While working in the state legislature, Gilbert Esau was a strong supporter of farmers. He also cared a lot about criminal justice and education. He wanted to make sure laws were fair and that schools were good.

At first, the Minnesota Legislature didn't officially have political parties. Later, when parties became required, he joined the Republican Party.

Committees He Joined

Gilbert Esau worked on many different committees. These groups focused on specific topics to help create laws. He served on committees for:

  • Agriculture (farming)
  • Criminal Justice (laws and safety)
  • Education (schools)
  • General Legislation (general laws)
  • Health & Welfare (health and well-being)
  • Transportation (roads and travel)
  • Veterans & Military Affairs (support for soldiers)

He spent nearly 20 years helping Minnesota in these important roles.

Life After Politics

Even after leaving the legislature, Gilbert Esau stayed active in his community. He sometimes shared his thoughts on local news.

Helping Others Around the World

Gilbert Esau was also very involved in Christian service work. He went on many mission trips to different countries. These included Ukraine (where his father was born), Russia, Paraguay, Peru, and the Philippines.

Sharing His Story

In 2009, Gilbert Esau wrote a book about his experiences in World War II. It was called My World War II Memories. He shared details about his time serving in both Asia and Europe.

He also gave interviews to share his stories as a World War II soldier. You can find some of these interviews on YouTube.

Gilbert Esau passed away on July 16, 2012.

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