IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Peter B.
Gilles
November 15, 2015
Obituary
ELKHART — Peter B. Gilles, 79, of Elkhart, passed away Sunday afternoon, Nov. 15, at Memorial Hospital of South Bend.
Peter was born in Hancock, Mich., to Lawrence J. and Elizabeth (Gauthier) Gilles.
He graduated from Lake Linden (Mich.) High School in 1954. He then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served from 1955 until his honorable discharge in 1959.
He married the love of his life, Deanna Marvel, on Nov. 26, 1971, in Granger.
She survives, as do two sons, Jeff (Deb) Gilles of South Bend and Brian (Angela) Gilles of Florida; three grandchildren, Makaelah, Brantson and Grace Gilles; brother Mike (Marion) Gilles of Sun City, Ariz.; sister Pat (Mel) Dessellier of Lake Linden; a former daughter-in-law, Cindy Gilles of Louisville, Ky.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, a brother, Larry Gilles, preceded him in death.
Peter worked as a mechanic on the Indiana Toll Road for 35 years. He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and was a former Brother in the Order of The Holy Cross in South Bend.
Peter was very handy and could build or repair just about anything. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. A rosary will conclude the evening at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main St., Elkhart, where friends may call for an hour prior to the mass. The Rev. Robert VanKempen will officiate. In keeping with his wishes, cremation will follow the Mass, with burial at a later date in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorials be given to Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Online condolences may reach the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.
Peter was born in Hancock, Mich., to Lawrence J. and Elizabeth (Gauthier) Gilles.
He graduated from Lake Linden (Mich.) High School in 1954. He then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served from 1955 until his honorable discharge in 1959.
He married the love of his life, Deanna Marvel, on Nov. 26, 1971, in Granger.
She survives, as do two sons, Jeff (Deb) Gilles of South Bend and Brian (Angela) Gilles of Florida; three grandchildren, Makaelah, Brantson and Grace Gilles; brother Mike (Marion) Gilles of Sun City, Ariz.; sister Pat (Mel) Dessellier of Lake Linden; a former daughter-in-law, Cindy Gilles of Louisville, Ky.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, a brother, Larry Gilles, preceded him in death.
Peter worked as a mechanic on the Indiana Toll Road for 35 years. He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and was a former Brother in the Order of The Holy Cross in South Bend.
Peter was very handy and could build or repair just about anything. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. A rosary will conclude the evening at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main St., Elkhart, where friends may call for an hour prior to the mass. The Rev. Robert VanKempen will officiate. In keeping with his wishes, cremation will follow the Mass, with burial at a later date in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorials be given to Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Online condolences may reach the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Peter B. Gilles, please visit our flower store.
Services
Funeral Mass
November
20
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
Starts at 11:00 am