Obituary of Gordon Gillespie
Gordon A. Gillespie, beloved of the Lord, went home to heaven on February 28, 2015 at age 88.
Born in Chicago, IL on April 14, 1926, he attended Kelvyn Park High School, graduated from DePaul University, and proudly served his country in the U. S. Navy from 1944-1946.
Best known as Gordie or Coach, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather to his family. A mentor to many, he would want you to remember how much he loved you all. He said often that he was the lucky one to be a part of our lives, the privilege was his. There was never a day when he did not want to go to work. When you were in his presence, it was all about you and your life, never about himself. He was generous to a fault, a lover of people, a man of simple needs, he understood the meaning of true humility.
Gordie never truly retired, going to Ripon, WI in 1996 where he continued to assume the role of head baseball coach, assist son, Bob, in basketball, and take the Ripon High School football team to its first ever state championship. Many lifelong friendships were formed there.
It would be remiss not to speak of his nearly eighty-year friendship with George Leddy (now deceased) and Pete Coorlas, who were known as "The Big Three," and who met in grade school, played basketball on the Lloyd playground and at DePaul University, loved one another and each other's families and, as Gordie said, "never had an argument."
Preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Belle (nee Ross) Gillespie; wife, Emily; brother, Earl Gillespie; aunt and uncle, Howard and Helen Ammeson; cousin, Donald Ross; two step-sons; and one step-grandson.
Survived by his wife, Joan Hollister Gillespie; sons, Bob (Penny), Mike (Connie), Gordie, Jr. (Patty), and Greg (Denise); three daughters, Billie K. (Ron) Shimanski-Lipke, Margaret Mary (John) Gillespie-Koenig, and Jacqueline (Steve Turk) Gillespie-Horvat; one cousin, Doris Pretz of Wisconsin; stepchildren, Reverend Bruce (Susan) Hollister, Linda (Reverend David) Brown, Betsy (Don) Dvorak and Brian (Priscilla) Hollister; 40 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank all at Dr. Rick Singh's office, the staff at Angels Grace Hospice, extraordinary nurse, Mary Kulasik and Lauren Birsa, and our night visiting angels, Laura Boyd and Richel Archuleta. Also Absolute Home Health Care Plus who so graciously filled the gaps of care when we needed them.
Memorials in Gordie's name may be made to the University of St. Francis, Joliet Catholic Academy or New Covenant Community Church.
A Public Visitation for Gordon Gillespie will be held Thursday, March 5, 2015 from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. at New Covenant Community Church, 1995 Mills Road, Joliet, IL.
Funeral services and burial at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery will be private.
A Public Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, 604 N. Raynor Avenue, Joliet, IL.
A Celebration of Life, open to the public, will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015, beginning at Noon at the University of St. Francis Sullivan Center.
For additional information (815) 741-5500.
