Louis Gilner

Louis Dockman Gilner, affectionately known as "Lou" or "Papa Lou" to his family and friends, passed away on June 19th, 2024, at the age of 86 in his home in Boulder, Colorado. Born on May 29th, 1938, in Baltimore, Maryland to Harry Gilner and Helen (née Dockman) Gilner, Lou grew up in Catonsville, Maryland, where he could frequently be found exploring nearby Patapsco State Park with his friends or his siblings Harry, Bill, Louise, Danny, and Molly.

Though his formal education was limited, Lou was a self-taught individual with a profound appreciation for knowledge. He valued education immensely and emphasized its importance to his three children, Aleck, Adrienne, and Patrick. Lou began his career with various jobs ranging from warehouse work in Baltimore's iconic Domino Sugar refinery to a lineman for Public Service in Boulder, Colorado, but he found his calling with RTD as a bus driver for over 40 years. His routes varied from city streets to snowy mountain roads, and he was a mainstay behind the wheel as he shuttled passengers to mountain ski resorts or Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies games at Mile High Stadium in Denver, often with one of his kids accompanying him in the first row of seats.

Outside of work, Papa Lou's curiosity led him to explore various interests and skills. He was an avid woodworker, using his basement workbench to create tools, modifications, and original furniture that adorned his home. He was also an avid reader, and cultivated a deep appreciation for history, economics, and demography. Papa Lou was often found pouring over detailed maps where he plotted extensive cross-country roadtrips, notating elevation, historical landmarks, and scenic frontage routes. When he wasn't studying maps, he was likely comparing different statistical abstracts, amortization tables, or actuarial databases as he explored deep knowledge of historical trends and change over time.

Music and movies played a significant role in Lou's life, and he loved watching old movies and historical television series or documentaries. He amassed a collection of records and CDs and cherished the songs of Fats Domino, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline, especially on his roadtrips. Lou's love of travel took him all across the United States and western Canada, and in 2012, he made the journey to Europe for the first time in 50 years, where he was able to tour Berlin and Munich with his son. Lou also loved the ocean and delighted in taking the family to the beach on both coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. In recent years, he delighted in journeys by plane and by train to the Oregon coast to visit his beloved partner Betty.

Lou will be remembered for his friendly demeanor, unassailable optimism, and unwavering support for his friends and family, and especially for his children. His personality and presence brought people together, and his memory will continue to inspire those who knew him and loved him.

Lou is survived by his children, Aleck Gilner and his wife Donna Marie Gilner, Adrienne Collins and her husband Cooper Collins, and Patrick Gilner and his wife Amy Hirschtick; his girlfriend, Betty Githens; his brother, Bill; his grandchildren Lehia, Kaytlyn, Charlotte, Veronica, and Conrad; and a wide circle of family and friends who cherished his warmth and companionship.

A memorial service to celebrate Lou's life will be held at his home in Boulder, Colorado beginning at 12:00pm on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024. Lou's casket will be open from noon to 1pm for celebrants to say farewell and to place any photographs or small items they would like to be cremated with him.