Rev. Gerald Lillis

LILLIS, HARVEY

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/2/2021 at 08:00:11

15 December 1955 - The Tipton Conservative

Last rites for the Rev. Gerald Albert Lillis, 62, pastor of St. Mary church since 1963, were held Dec. 10. The Rev. John Boyle officiated at the Requiem low mass for members of the parish at 9 a.m. The Rt. Rev. Paul D. Moore P.A. officiated at the solemn mass for clergy and laity of the diocese at 11 a.m.

Mrs. Reno Droll was organist. The 11 a.m. mass was sung by the clergy of the diocese. Casketbearers were E. J. Wilson, Paul Pelzer, James Fitzpatrick, Marvin Mallie, Charles Gibbons and Raymond Crock Sr.

Burial was in St. Mary cemetery.

The Rev. Lillis died Dec. 7 at Mercy hospital, Iowa City. He was hospitalized for approximately 10 days and underwent surgery for ulcers about a week before his death.

The son of Albert Michael and Clara Mabelle Garvin Lillis, he was born in Lost Nation.

Father Lillis had also been pastor of St. Patrick's church, Brooklyn, and St. Peter's church, Keokuk, before coming to Tipton.

He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from St. Ambrose college and received his master of arts degree from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Father Lillis was ordained in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport in 1928.

He taught at St. Ambrose Academy from 1928 to 1930 and was professor of chemistry at St. Ambrose college from 1935 to 1950.

In 1935, he received his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Iowa. He had also studied at the Sulpician Seminary, Washington, D.C.

Father Lillis had recently been the moderator of the Council of Catholic Women in the Davenport Diocese.

He is survived by a brother, Bernard, Los Angeles and 2 sisters, Mrs. F. M. (Florence) Harvey, Bakersfield, Calif. and Iona Lillis, Santa Barbara, Calif.