Santa’s helper is still delivering Christmas joy
BEMIDJI, Minn. — For nearly 60 years now, Jim Gildersleeve has donned a silky red suit with a big black belt, and made sure his white hair and beard looked their best as he helped folks celebrate Christmas.
Helping folks celebrate this special season has been a tough assignment this year, though.
“Because of COVID-19, it has been a difficult season as Santa cannot visit anyone in nursing homes, hospitals, community programs, etc,” said the Hartington native, who now lives in Bemidji, Minn.
One community activity he was able to participate in, though was a “drive-by” event in Guthrie, Minn., where Santa sat on the back of a pickup truck and distributed candy and fruit to children and adults.
“It just isn’t the same but it was something in place of the usual program and party where nearly 200 children would attend,” said the 1955 Hartington High School graduate, who is known as “Jess.” to most folks back here.
It all started in 1962, when he was asked to take on the role of St. Nick for a small community Christmas party. He’s now been doing it for the past 58 years.
He admits, he might not have played the role to its full potential in his early days.
“The biggest surprise was my first Santa experience,” he said. “Our small daughter, who was not quite 2 years old, recognized my cowboy boots and said, ‘That’s not Santa – he is my dad.’ She was then told by her mother to not tell any of the other children there.”
Gildersleeve gets as much pleasure out of playing the role as the little kids do when they see Santa first walk through the door.
He always found time to squeeze in his Christmas duties over the years as he worked at everything from being a dairy farmer to working as a certified nursing assistant in nursing homes and the hospital, and working for Western Electric and for the State of Minnesota.
“I started doing it because I enjoy being around children and making them happy, as well as spreading good cheer to especially the elderly,” he said.
He is now retired from the day-to-day, nine-to-five work world, but still puts on the red and white suit each year.
Even though he is officially retired, helping Santa out during the Holiday Season can be a full-time gig.
He used to start donning the suit right after Thanksgiving and continued through Christmas Day with December being a full schedule.
“I did it daily as much as time allowed greeting people in nursing homes, hospitals, clinics; was involved in charities’ picture-taking projects; volunteering for various organizations, such as PTA, Boys and Girls Clubs, etc. Also, I would just walk around the town greeting families, children, and people who were in the vicinity.”
He usually just drove himself to the special events to greet people, but he’s also enlisted some help from time to time to make his grand appearance.
“For a number of years, I arrived at the hospital via a helicopter – the word was that I landed at the airport with the sleigh and reindeer and then flew in a helicopter to the community hospital,” he said.
Gildersleeve said he relishes being able to bring some joy to people’s lives.
“All these years I have been talking with children, families, elderly, etc. and giving them some cheerful comments as well as many gifts,” he said.
He enjoys it the most when he is able to deliver food and gifts to a family in great need, which he does almost yearly.
“It is so heartwarming that it brings on my tears,” he said.
He’s actually shed quite a few tears over the years.
“One time I asked this boy what he wanted for Christmas, his reply was, “I don’t want any thing – just want my brother to be able to talk,” he said.
Gildersleeve said he plans to keep on helping out Santa as long as his health allows him to do it.
He lives at Bemidji, Minn., with Marjorie, his wife of over 60 years. The couple has three daughters — Renee, Pamela, Debra — six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
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