It is with heavy hearts we announce the excruciating loss of
loving husband, son, and friend, Kevin Paul Gilman.
Kevin was born to proud parents Debbie and Tom Gilman
on February 27th, 1976, in Southern Oregon. He graced
the world with his presence, his radiant smile, beaming
eyes, and a larger than life sense of humor.
As a child, Kevin loved baseball, being outdoors with his
friends and brother, and being a Seattle Seahawks fan.
He was born into fandom, as the Seahawks were
founded the year that he was born. He loved sharing his
enthusiasm with anyone who would listen and often
would try to convert anyone he could into a fan.
As he grew older, Kevin’s natural talents and inquisitive mind
brought him quite the life of adventure. He spent his entire
career working in restaurants, which he was deeply passionate
about. With an uncanny nose and a taste for wine, his passions
accelerated him to do amazing things, like having the once in a
lifetime opportunity to fly to Bordeaux France to judge the 2015
vintages. He was HUMBLE, he would say that he was a “wine
geek” but he truly was a big deal.
Kevin also found great joy in life experiences and travel. In a
story written by the stars, Kevin traveled to Cabo San Lucas on
a guy’s trip, where he unexpectedly met the love of his life,
Barbie. Their story is one that people only thought was
possible in fairytales. After leaving the whirlwind trip to
Mexico, they decided to keep in touch, and their relationship
blossomed into something truly special.
Long distance was the name of the game for the first few years
of their relationship, in which they would live their lives
separately in Oregon and California but would rendezvous at
special and unique places. Kevin and Barbie shared a deep love
for travel, and their adventures together took them all over the
world. Mexico was just the beginning of their travels. From the
beaches of Nicaragua and Ecuador to the temples of India,
Kevin and Barbie embraced each new destination with open
arms. Their travels took them to many places throughout
Europe as well, including The Netherlands, Greece, Ireland, and
Belgium. They were both fascinated by the cultures they
encountered and the people they met along the way.
Things really got serious when Barbie won the heart of Peeve,
Kevin’s furry four-legged son, and Kevin knew she would be a
great momma to him. For anyone that knew Peeve, winning
this fluffy curmudgeon over was no easy feat, even with the
bribery of chicken. In 2017, Kevin and Peeve made the move to
Stockton, CA to be with Barbie, and Kevin proposed not long
after. In true Kevin and Barbie fashion, they planned a
beautiful destination wedding in Hvar, Croatia, and were
married October 7, 2017 in an intimate ceremony amongst
loved ones.As a Pisces, Kevin dreamed big and had always wanted to
open a restaurant of his own. As big as his dreams were, his
determination was bigger. In 2018, the Downtowner was
envisioned and brought to life. He was all-in, creating a
bright (can we say Seahawk Green?!) and eclectic
establishment for all the business folk of Downtown
Stockton to congregate for delicious food, friendly service,
and an upbeat environment.
Anyone that knew Kevin knew his big smile and his
infectious laugh. He had a way of lighting up any room he
walked into, and his positive energy was contagious. These
qualities made the Downtowner a staple amongst the
Stockton locals, and quickly grew a loyal following.
In addition to his love for good food and wine, Kevin also
lived for the thrill of the rush. Always living fast and not
letting a life experience get away from him. From
skydiving, snowboarding, diving/snorkeling, hiking, concert
going, parasailing and mountain climbing, to beach days,
comedy shows, spa days and goat yoga, Kevin left no stone
unturned. His favorite thing was sharing these experiences
with the people that he loved. The relationships he
nurtured were deep and lifelong. Even when he or friends
relocated, he would maintain these relationships miles
away, but always close in heart. He always aspired to be a
strong male figure to the young humans in his life and he
succeeded in this.Kevin laughed big, lived big, and worked big, but he loved the
biggest. The stories, memories, and experiences he made with
us all will be etched in our hearts forever. He never met a
stranger, touching the lives of everyone that he knew, no
matter how brief the encounter. He had a way of bringing
people together and making everyone feel included. This was
evident if you ever made it to one of his NFL Draft parties. He
had a great sense of humor and the ability to make others
smile, even on their toughest days. He made everyone a
priority and was in inspiration to all that knew him.
Kevin's legacy will be the memories he created with his loved
ones, the delicious food and wine he shared, and the laughter
he brought into the world. Our loss is immeasurable, a void
that will never be filled. He is missed now and always by his
beloved wife, their families, and all the friends whom we also
consider “family”. His memory will live on in the hearts of all
of us who loved him. Rest in peace, Kevin, and we know that
you and Peeve are running together on the beach again.

Given Kevin's love for dogs, food, and the well-being of every person around him, please consider donating in his honor to one of these foundations":
Grey Muzzle Organization (a foundation for the care of senior dogs) https://www.greymuzzle.org
Save A Warrior
[https:/www.saveawarrior.org]https:/www.saveawarrior.org
Wilderness Inquiry https://www.wildernessinquiry.org
Action Against Hunger
https://www.actionagainsthunger.org

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