Nils Gimse's Obituary
After a brief illness, Nils Raymond (Ray) Gimse passed away in his sleep on March 20, 2025, at the good old age of 98 years. New Year’s Day 2025 found him celebrating his birthday with his loving wife of 72 years, Shirley Sanders Gimse, his three daughters, and many other family members and friends.
The son of Sadie and Adolf, Ray was born in Litchville, North Dakota the evening of January 1, 1927, as a blizzard raged outside. He was the third child of Sadie and Adolf and would later be joined by three more siblings. As a teenager, he joined his father in the carpentry trade. The family relocated to Tacoma in the 1940’s. Wanting to avoid being drafted into the Army during World War II, Ray chose to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Navy weeks before he turned eighteen. Ray first served on the U.S.S. Salt Lake City and, as the war was winding down, he served on the U.S.S. Kershaw as it returned Navy Seabees home. After his honorable discharge, Ray returned to North Dakota to try his hand at farming with some of his relatives. Deciding that farming was not for him, Ray rejoined his family in Tacoma where he enrolled in the carpentry program at Tacoma Vocational-Technical Institute (now Bates Technical College).
It was during his formal carpentry training that he met a classmate’s sister, Shirley Sanders. The two were joined in wedded bliss in March 1953. They settled in Lakewood where they raised their three daughters. After residing in Lakewood for 44 years, Ray and Shirley moved to the Highlands district of Tacoma where they lived on the Highlands Golf Course. They moved to an assisted living community at Point Ruston just over a year ago.
For many years, Ray enjoyed charter fishing trips out of Westport where he tried his luck at bringing home Chinook and Coho salmon. He looked forward every year to clam digging at Vaughn Bay, and was successful in digging up the occasional geoduck or two. Ray and Shirley enjoyed bowling together in Mixed League play. But then the Golf Bug bit, and Ray found the pastime which would provide him with decades of pleasure. For years he participated in Men’s Clubs at both the Fort Steilacoom and Highlands golf courses. He and Shirley frequently played together and traveled with friends to enjoy different courses throughout the region. Ray looked forward every summer to his family’s annual golf tourney. During his retirement, Ray frequently golfed five days a week. He holds the record at Highlands Golf Course for most lifetime holes-in-one. Ray scored 15 of them, his most recent at age 92!
Ray and Shirley enjoyed traveling in their retirement, frequently joining family members and friends on adventures. They enjoyed eleven cruises together which took them to places as varied as Alaska, Mexico, New England, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and the coast of Norway. A highlight of their travels was attending a family reunion in Norway in 2005.
Ray will be missed immensely by his family--wife, Shirley; daughters, Karen Gimse of Goodyear, Arizona, Linda Griesbach (Gordon) of Langley, Shelly Stovall (Steven) of Steilacoom; granddaughters Ondreya Lowers (Adam) and Kimber Stieber; grandson Alex Pirolo (Elisa); and “greats,” Gracelyn and Colton. Ray was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, Agnes, Kaare, James, and Carol. He is survived by his brother, Arnold.
Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow,
but remember me in every tomorrow.
Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles,
I’ve only gone to rest a little while.
What’s your fondest memory of Nils?
What’s a lesson you learned from Nils?
Share a story where Nils' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Nils you’ll never forget.
How did Nils make you smile?