Leon "Red" A. Gillis

Leon “Red” A. Gillis, 95, Luxemburg, passed away peacefully Thursday October 27, 2022, with his daughters at his side. He was born on January 22, 1927, to the late John and Ethel (Laurent) Gillis. He was the oldest of their four children. On August 31, 1949, Red married Marie L. Lipsky, at Holy Rosary Church in Kewaunee. Together they raised two daughters, Mary and Dawn. They spent 71 years of marriage together before Marie passed away on April 21, 2021. He was a longtime member of St. Mary Parish in Luxemburg, the Knights of Columbus and American Legion Ralph Kline Post 262 of Luxemburg. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1945 and was stationed on the airfield on Wake Island. Red spent most of his working years as a Ford mechanic. As a young man he worked for Ben Krueger Ford in Luxemburg and then he worked in the Green Bay area for three Ford dealerships, Van Drisse, Van Boxtel and Dorsch. He was a well-known skilled mechanic. He played hard ball and fast pitch and slow pitch softball in the Kewaunee area for many years. He was a well-known softball pitcher. He joined the Luxemburg Volunteer Fire Department in 1950 and served the area for 41 years. In 1977 and 1978 he enrolled in EMT training and was among the first large group of citizens to join the Luxemburg Rescue Squad. He assisted those in need of emergency help until he was in his 80’s. The Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce recognized him for his decades of service by giving him their Community Service Award in 1995. He was a longtime Green Bay Packer fan. He was an usher for games at the old City Stadium. When they built the new stadium he decided he wanted to watch the games as a real Packer fan. One day on his lunch break he went to the stadium to apply for and purchase season tickets. Red, Hank Kollross and Marv Bins attended the first game played at the new stadium. They attended the games for many years including the Ice Bowl in 1967. The tickets still remain in the family. He is survived by his daughters, Mary (Mike) Patek Kewaunee; Dawn (Mike) Durham, Victoria TX; six grandchildren, Amy (Joe) Vanden Avond, Debra (Matt) Van Goethem, Edward (Fran) Patek, Lindy (Anthony Reisinger) Burns, Danielle (Erik) Barraza, and Nicholas Burns; twelve great grandchildren, Jacob, Ryan and Kathryn Vanden Avond, Mitchell, Mason, and Madyson Van Goethem, Eddie and Calvin Patek, Purusa Burns, Jameson Burns, River and Briggs Barraza. Other survivors include his brothers and sister, Darrell (Mary) Gillis, Ron (Alice) Gillis and Sharon Swagel; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jim (Shirley) Lipsky, Helen “Tootsie” Reisner, Nancy (Bob) Bierke, Dale Lispksy; many nieces and nephews; special friends, Joane Kollross, Ted and Anita Stodola and Mike and Coleen Lambert. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Nicholas and Helen Lipsky; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Alvin Swagel, Evelyn Gillis, Patsy (Donald) Shillin, Robert (Phyllis) Lipsky, Nick Lipsky Jr., Donald Lipsky, Mike (Phyllis) Lipsky, and Wayne Reisner. Friends may call at St. Mary Catholic Church in Luxemburg on Thursday November 3rd from 9:00 to 10:30 am. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 am with Rev. Daniel Schuster officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Luxemburg, will full military rites at graveside provided by the American Legion Post 262 of Luxemburg. McMAHON FUNERAL HOME, LUXEMBURG, is assisting the Gillis Family. www.mcmahonfh.com The family would like to thank Rev. Daniel Schuster for his kindness and concern during the last few years. The family is grateful to Lori and the staff at Autumn Fields Assisted Living and Pro-Medica Hospice for the excellent and compassionate care given to Red.