Leander S. Gilles

Leander S. "Lee" Gilles, 86, passed away on December 27, 2008, at St. Agnes Hospital. A resident of Lake View Estates for the past 3 years, he previously resided at 369 W. Division Street. He was born April 13, 1922, in Fond du Lac County, the son of Joseph M. and Frances B. (Steffen) Gilles. He wed Marie A. Bednarek on September 14, 1946, in St. Patrick's Church in Fond du Lac. He was a graduate of St. Mary's Grade School and Goodrich High School. Drafted into the Army in 1942, he was assigned to the University of Kentucky where he studied Topical Drafting for three months. He was assigned to the Flying 8 Ball Squadron and helped build airfields in the European Theatern. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal. He was an employee of the A. & P. for 28 years; starting as a stockman and ending as assistant manager. He worked for the Fond du Lac School District for 12 years at Bragg and Franklin Schools. He was a member of Trier-Puddy American Legion Post #75. Surviving is his wife of 62 years, Marie, a daughter, Eileen (Terence) Coffee of Aberdeen, MD, grandsons Matthew Coffee of Aberdeen, Stephen Araoka of Ichikawa, Japan, and Mark (Araoka) Kaburagi, of Chiba, Japan, and seven great-grandchildren, also residing in Japan. A sister-in-law, Marion Gilles of Fond Du Lac, a son-in-law, Hiroshi Araoka of Ichikawa, Japan, further survives him; his parents, a daughter, Janet M. Araoka, two brothers, Walter and Sylvester Gilles, and two sisters-in-law, Isabel and Ruby Gilles, preceded him in death.



Visitation for Mr. Leander S. "Lee" Gilles will be on Wednesday, December 31, 2008, from 9 to 11 am at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home. Liturgy of the Word for Christian Burial will be at 11 am at the funeral home. Deacon Larry Hughes will officiate and burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The family requests that memorials be directed to the American Heart Association, the National Kidney Foundation, or the American Lung Association. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.ueckerwitt.com