Gilbert Esau

In 2009, Esau authored a memoir detailing his military service with the U.S. Army in both the Asian and European theatres during World War II, entitled My World War II Memories. A series of interviews with him were also conducted to document his experiences as a World War II serviceman. These interviews can be found on YouTube.

Esau represented the old District 18A and, later, 28A, which included all or portions of Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray and Redwood counties, changing somewhat after the 1972 legislative redistricting. He was, along with senators Dennis Frederickson, Earl Renneke and Jim Vickerman, and representatives Aubrey Dirlam, George Mann, Henry Kalis and Wendell Erickson, one of the longest-serving legislators from southern Minnesota in the state's history.

From the town of Mountain Lake, Esau, was an automobile garage and body repair shop owner. He served in the United States Army during World War II, being deployed in both the European and Asiatic theatres between 1941 and 1945. Prior to being elected to the Minnesota Legislature, he was a member of the Mountain Lake Village Council from 1954-1963.

Gilbert Donald Esau (October 31, 1919 – July 16, 2012) was a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from southwestern Minnesota. First elected in 1962, Esau was re-elected in 1964, 1966 and 1968. After sitting out for four years, he opted to run again in 1972, was elected and was re-elected in 1974, 1976, 1978 and 1980.