Eugene “Gene” Gillilan
WAUSA — Eugene “Gene” Gillilan, 79, Wausa, died Dec. 7, 2020, at his residence.
Funeral services were Dec.10 at Thabor Lutheran Church, Wausa.
Rev. Carl Sirotzki officiated, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wausa.
Visitation, without family present, was Wednesday at the church.
Social distancing guidelines were followed, masks were required.
Brockhaus Funeral Home, Wausa, was in charge of arrangements.
Eugene LaRay Gillilan was born Oct. 27, 1941, to Norris and Dorothy (Peters) Gillilan on the family farm northeast of Wausa in Cedar County. He attended two Cedar County grade schools before transferring as a freshman to Wausa Public School. Gene graduated May 20, 1959, and attended Norfolk Junior College the following fall. Gene attended one semester of college and then quit to join the family farm operation.
Gene married Barbara Greenwall at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Bloomfield, Aug. 19, 1962. They had three children, Joan Marie, Jodi Ann and Kenneth Eugene. Gene was baptized Dec. 14, 1941, and confirmed May 27, 1956, both at Thabor Lutheran Church, Wausa. He was a lifetime member of this church.
Gene farmed with his father and brother, Dennis Gillilan, his entire life. Their boys, Kenneth and Marc, joined the family farming operation along with their sons helping. Gene loved to farm with his dad and brother, but also enjoyed watching the younger boys take the operation over. Gene’s favorite time was harvest, but his passion was cattle. He enjoyed going to the cattle sale barns, feeding them, calving them, and fattening them for market. He also enjoyed buying them for others as well. The last few years, Gene was buying cattle and equipment online and was very proud to be able to do this. He enjoyed visiting with neighbor farmers and sharing rides to the cattle sales. He was a true farmer who loved nature, the land, and the animals God provided. Gene loved his family and life on the farm.
Gene is survived by his spouse of 58 years, Barbara; children, Joan and Steven Hult, Norfolk; Jodi Timmerman, Randolph; and Kenneth and Misty Gillilan, Wausa; seven granddaughters; two grandsons; ten great-granddaughters; three great-grandsons; brother, Dennis Gillian, Wausa; brothers-in-law, Ronald and Cheri Greenwall, Columbus, and Charles Dewall, Hastings; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Norris and Dorothy Gillilan; father and mother-in-law, Richard and Ruby Greenwall; sisters-in-law, Judith Gillilan and Beverly Dewall; and son-in-law, Michael Timmerman.
