Obituary of Donald Ralph Gillette

Donald R. Gillette, 86, of Niles, passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at Lakeland Regional Hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan, following a brief illness. He was born on October 24, 1927 in Joliet, Illinois to the late Ralph E. and Helen E. (Cutchin) Gillette. Don enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January of 1946, serving his country proudly during WWII and received an honorable discharge in the fall of 1947. In 1951 He went to work for National Standard, retiring in 1982. On July 1, 1960 Don married Marjorie D. Harper at a ceremony in Niles, Michigan. He was a member of Fairland Christian Church in Niles and enjoyed singing, playing golf, word search and jumbo puzzles. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Rebecca Forman, a brother Keith E. Gillette and a son-in-law Ronald Becker. Don is survived by his loving wife Marjorie Gillette of Niles, a son Jeffrey Gillette of Niles, a daughter Deborah Becker of Buchanan, a son-in-law Robert Forman of Holiday, Florida, four grandchildren; Dean Gillette, Travis Asmus, Jason and Jonathan Becker and a sister Carol (Phil) Scott of Humboldt, Arizona. A time of visitation will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2014 from 4:00p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home at 521 E. Main Street in Niles. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 28, 2014 at 11:00a.m. at Mission Hills Memorial Chapel 61453 M-51 in Niles with Pastor Don Fleischman officiating. An interment will follow at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends following the funeral services at Fairland Christian Church for a time of fellowship. Memorial contributions may be made in Don's memory to Fairland Christian Church- Building Fund 1811 River Bluff Street, Niles, MI 49120.