James Robert Gilles

James (Jim) Robert Gilles, 87, of La Crescent, passed away peacefully at his home on February 6, 2015. He was born on November 22, 1927. He was a longtime furniture salesman and owned Gilles Furniture in La Crescent from 1957-1960. He served in the Air Force from 1950-1953 as a drill sergeant (and let everyone know about it until the end-and he was proud of it too!) and was honorably discharged. He is preceded in death by his sister Coleen (Gilles) Gautsch. He is survived by his loving, caregiving wife Yvonne Gilles, his daughter Lynda Jo (Greg) Nordstrom of Pine Island, MN and Tammy (Cliff) Salmon of Farmington, MN, 2 grandchildren, Sergeant First-class Clint (Ashley) McKinley of Colorado Springs, CO and a granddaughter Sheena (Chris) Tushaus of Dodge Center, MN and 2 great-grandchildren, Tessa and Kendra, a brother, Bill Gilles, and 2 sisters, Rosemary Malzacher and Joan Viner and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of the Crucifixion, La Crescent, MN on Wednesday, February 11 at 11:00 AM, with visitation 1 hour prior. Rev. Gregory Havel will officiate. A private burial with military honors will be conducted at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN at a later date. Memorials may be given to Crucifixion Catholic Church, La Crescent, MN or to National Shrine of St. Jude, 205 West Monroe, Chicago, IL 60606. A special heartfelt thank you goes to the La Crescent First Responders, the La Crescent Police Department and the Houston County Sheriff for their compassion and service. A very special thank you goes to his home health aid and “angel”, Eileen Meyer.
Dad, may you enjoy all the chocolate marshmallow ice cream and apple sauce in heaven that God can provide! Love you and miss you.