Walter J. Gilles
Walter J. Gilles, 69, of Fond du Lac, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 10, 2012, at St. Agnes Hospital, attended by family and friends.
He was born on July 2, 1943, in Fond du Lac, the son of Walter Jacob and Isabel Ethel Buell Gilles.
Walt graduated from Goodrich High School in 1961, and attended the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. He served with the United States Army Reserve, attaining the rank of staff sergeant.
On May 7, 1966, he married Barbara Ann Nelson at Church of Peace, Fond du Lac. She preceded him in death on September 18, 2002.
Walt worked for C.D. Smith Construction for over thirty years. He and Barbara were members of Lighthouse Christian Church, Fond du Lac.
Walt was an avid bird-watcher and a past president of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Ornithological Society. In 1965, he and Carl Knuth founded the Owen J Gromme Bird Club in Fond du Lac.
He is survived by three brothers: Peter (Mary) Gilles of Plymouth, MN, Richard (Debra) Gilles of Chilton, WI, and James (Maria) Gilles of Woodbury, MN; a brother-in-law James (Judi) Nelson of Sister Bay, WI; nieces: Mary Christine (Rob) Schmidt of Germantown, WI, Susan (Randy) Crowder of Tomball, TX, Katie Gilles of Woodbury, MN, Kristianna (Derek) Swartzman of Tallahase, FL, and Rebecca (Chris) Kritzman of Athens, GA; a nephew, Tyler (Tammy) Nelson of Orlando, FL; and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 14, 2012, at Lighthouse Christian Church, 401 South National Avenue, Fond du Lac, with Rev. Godrey Onwunili officiating.
The visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 31 East Division Street, Fond du Lac, and on Friday at church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. The burial and committal service will be at Estabrooks Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the National Kidney Foundation or the charity of one’s choice.
Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family, www.machfuneralchapel.com.