GILLES, John Gordon 1936-2008

GILLES, SIMPSON, GUST, MAGERA, MAHON

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 5/21/2011 at 10:03:04

John Gordon Gilles 1936-2008

#1
SSGT US Air Force - Korea

Gordon Gilles, 72, 16-24th St. NW, Minot, died Thursday, March 20, 2008, in his home.

Gordon was born March 4, 1936, in Riceville, Iowa, the son of John and Lois (Simpson) Gilles. He attended grade school in Riceville and moved to Lyndon Station, Wis. During the 8th grade he moved to Garrison and graduated from Garrison High School in 1954. He was elected senior class president in 1953 and has held that position for 55 years. During his junior year in 1953, he played on the Garrison High School basketball team that was runner-up in the State Class B Tournament.

In June of 1954 he entered the U.S. Air Force and served in Texas; Alabama; Iowa; Missouri; Nagoya, Japan, and Naha, Okinawa. In June of 1958 he was honorably discharged and he returned to Minot. He went to work for the Minot Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic. He attended and graduated from Minot State Teachers College with a bachelor of science degree in speech and hearing in 1962. From 1959 to 1962 he served with the Air Force Reserves and was discharged as a technical sergeant.

He married Doris Barrow on Dec. 27, 1958, at Garrison. They lived in Minot all their married life. They have four children. Gordon retired in 1998 and he enjoyed traveling. His spare time was spent fishing, hunting and woodworking.

Gordon was a member of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot, where he served on the Parish Council as president and was a member of the Building and Grounds Committee. He also served as an usher, lector, Eucharistic minister, Mass server, greeter and sang in the choir. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 4894 and served as Grand Knight, where he was awarded Outstanding North Dakota State District Deputy.

Those who shared in his life: wife, Doris Gilles, Minot; sons, John (Tammy) Gilles, Minot, and Jerome (JoAnn) Gilles, Ankeny, Iowa; daughters, Joan (Randy) Gust, Minot, and Julie (Jeff) Magera, Sartell, Minn.; five grandchildren, John Paul Gilles, Josie Gilles, Nick Bakke, Trevor Gust and Tanner Gust; brother, William (Eileen) Gilles, Glastonbury, Conn.; sisters, Mary Gilles, Torrance, Calif., and Theresa (Jess) Mahon, San Diego; numerous nieces, nephews, Aunt Marcella Sprung and cousins.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lois Gilles.

Funeral: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 10:30 a.m., at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

Visitation and vigil prayer service: Visitation Tuesday, March 25, 2008, from noon to 5 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, and from 6 to 7 p.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot, with the vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. at the church.

Memorials are preferred to St. John the Apostle Catholic Church Building Fund or to the American Cancer Society.

#2
Find A Grave Memorial: Rosehill Memorial Park Cemetery, Minot, Ward Co., North Dakota
John Gordon Gilles March 4, 1936—March 20, 2008