Obituary: Robert W. Gill - Class of 1953

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Robert W. Gill, age 76, of Madison, died at home on August 28, 2010, surrounded by his loving family after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born August 31, 1933, the son of Herbert and Lucille (Schmitz) Gill Sr. A native of Madison, Robert graduated from Central High School in 1953. He was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1954, and was stationed in Japan. He worked for Blied Printing, Wisconsin State Journal and the Madison School District. On May 11, 1957, he married Mary Lou Nicholls. During his life he enjoyed traveling, playing cards, gambling (penny slots), watching Badgers and Packers football, and bowling on many different teams. He was devoted to his family and friends and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Robert is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Lou; their six children and 16 grandchildren, Teresa and John (Michelle, Matthew, Ryan) Farr, Tim and Mary (Megan, Ashley) Gill, Julie (Zach, Zoie) Peterson, Jenny and Pat (Kendra, Paige) Hergenrother, Jerry (friend, Susie) (Amber, Nicole, Alison) Gill, Jacquie and Eric (Syerra, Kayla, Colin, Madison) Rhodes; two sisters, Donna Grahn and Dorothy (Arnie) Miller; sister-in-law, Dolores Gill; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Herbert Gill Jr. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 3, 2010, at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield Street, Monona, with Father Bart Timmerman presiding. Burial with military honors will follow at Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be on Thursday, September 2, 2010, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 2418 N. Sherman Avenue, and again on Friday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of mass. The family would like to express a special thank you to Dr. Peter Beatty and the staff at Dean Oncology Clinic, HospiceCare Staff and Dr. Paul Wertsch, family doctor. "Bob, Dad, Grandpa...You may be gone, but never forgotten." Ryan Funeral Home and Cremation Services 2418 N. Sherman Avenue (608) 249-8257

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on August 31, 2010