Richard D. Gillis (1917-2009)
GILLIS, PREMMER, BENNETT, BRABY, STOWER, SILVA, BENTO
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 8/8/2009 at 13:05:52
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, August 4, 2009.
Richard D. Gillis, 92, of Urbandale, entered into eternal rest Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Caldwell Raddatz Funeral Home, 8201 Hickman Road, in Urbandale. Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.
He was born June 4, 1917, to Anna Belle (Premmer) and Clifton Gillis at Shellsburg. He spent his boyhood and early youth there, graduating from Palo High School in 1934. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Jan. 7, 1936, and served with minor interruptions until retiring as lieutenant colonel March 31, 1957. He graduated from Army Command and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in 1955. He was a veteran of both World War II and Korea, serving as a tank officer in World War II and an infantry battalion commander in Korea. He was promoted to full colonel in the Army Reserve in 1960. After retirement, he was employed by Bourns Inc., of Ames, serving as plant manger the last eight years.
During his Army career and civilian life, he received many awards for gallantry and meritorious achievements including citations from local and civilian authorities. His most prized award was the “Combat Infantry Badge,” which according to him, “says it all.” He was a member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Military Order of The Purple Heart and the U.S. Military Officers Association. He especially enjoyed his relationship with God, all of his family, his church, church work and service to other veterans.
Col. Gillis is survived by his wife, Melanie, whom he married Dec. 30, 1983; one daughter, Judy Bennett and her husband, Stephen, of Madrid; one son, Charles, of Grimes; two stepdaughters, Laurene Braby and husband, Jim, of Troy, Ohio, and Cindy Stower and husband, Steve, of Dawsonville, Ga.; three grandsons, Mark, Clark and Matt (Jana) Bennett; step-grandchildren, Chad, Lisa and Mark Braby; and great-grandchildren, Ashanti Bennett, and Addy, Lizzy and Evan Silva.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his late wife, Elsie Bento Gillis (married April 4, 1942, and died Sept. 21, 1983); two brothers; and three sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Central Iowa Hospice.
Online condolences may be made to www.caldwellraddatz.com.
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