Thomas "Jim" James Gill

Thomas James “Jim” Gill

September 22, 1938 ~ May 6, 2021 (Age 82)

Thomas James “Jim” Gill took his last breath on Thursday, May 6, 2021 accompanied by his loving wife, daughter, step-son, and devoted caretaker. Fighting through COVID-19 and a barrage of various health issues, he pushed to be there for his family, especially his beloved grandchildren.

Jim was born on September 22, 1938 in Bradley, Illinois to Thomas R. and Genevieve Gill. He was the second of six children in his family. He dropped out of high school in the 11th grade and joined the marines. Jim served in active duty for four years and in the reserves for two years before receiving his GED. He was very proud of working in intelligence during his time in the marines. He married his first wife, Nancy J. Wicklund, and had three beautiful children. Later on in life, he married his second wife, Adrienne Becker, and loved her children and grandchildren like they were his own. Jim, even in his old age, was the life of every party and proved that humor can be inserted into any situation. He was beloved and respected for his honesty and pure devotion to family. The spitfire of his young adult life blossomed into a man who worked with his hands and had a strong relationship with the outdoors.

Jim’s love was never questioned, even in the most difficult of times. His grandchildren especially loved and appreciated him for his undying care for them. He mixed his wisdom and his zest for life to create fun experiences for his family. He shared stories of his Polish heritage and work with the Illinois State Highway Department, and he took time out of his day to go for long car rides with his grandson. His favorite hobbies were carving, fishing, gardening, arrowhead hunting and spending all the time he could with his family. Even in the tougher times of his life, he remained resilient and pushed past every obstacle that came upon him.

Jim created lasting bonds in every community he lived in from Illinois to Michigan to Wisconsin. His neighbors adored him, his children respected him, and his grandchildren lept at the notion of spending time with him. His innate friendliness and down-to-earth personality became the marks of a strong, independent man who never took his family’s love for granted.

Jim is survived by his caring wife, Adrienne, and her children and grandchildren: Michael and Celeste Becker and their children: Anna and Alex Becker; his son-in-law, Phil Hamner, and his two daughters: Emily Hamner and Alison Stuhldreher; his daughter, Sue Gill; his grandchildren: Jonathan and Amanda Gill; his first wife, Nancy Wicklund; his siblings: Norma Lyme, Miles Gutshall, and Julie (Lee) Zimmerman.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Genevieve Gill; his stepmother, Thelma Gill; his stepfathers, Floyd Gutshall and Bill Weaver; his two sons, Steve and Dave Gill; his step-daughters, Kathy Hamner and Lisa Becker; his three grandchildren: Stevi, Zack, and Alex Gill; his sister, Mary Anne Gill; his brother, William “Bill” Gutshall; his brother-in-law, Earl Lyme; and his nephew, Justin Gill.

Jim’s family would like to extend gratitude to Jim’s devoted caretaker, David Aceves; all of his doctors and nurses at Appleton Medical Center; and the Thedacare Hospice staff.

Devoted Husband, Dad, and Grandpa, we miss you with all our hearts and we thank you for your quiet compassion and the precious memories you’ve bestowed upon us. We will miss your cunning jokes, your constantly-tapping feet, and your wild stories. You have blessed our lives and paved the way for us, and we are so grateful to you. We love you, and we know we will see you again in the future. Thank you.

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