obituaries

William Jr

Cottage Hills |

William “Tom” Gilleland Jr., age 67, went to be with the Lord on Friday, February 21, 2014 at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis Missouri.

He was born on November 20, 1946 in Wood River, IL, the son of the late William and Harriet (Hayes) Gilleland Sr.

He married Debra L. (Tribble) on February 29, 2008 in Edwardsville, IL.  She survives.

Tom served his country for three years in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.  He worked for the Norfolk Southern Railroad repairing track for 10 years, retiring in 1984.  He was then employed at DePaul Hospital in the maintenance department.  He was a member of Forest Homes First Southern Baptist Church in Cottage Hills and Cottage Hills VFW Post 7678 where he served as Commander. He enjoyed fishing, baseball, football, watching wrestling, and most of all, spending time with family and friends. 

He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Vicki and Robert Heden of OR, Brandy and Matt Kotzamanis of Bethalto, and David and Alissa Gilleland of Rosewood Heights; 3 grandchildren, Lacy and John Kotzamanis, and Ember Heden; 1 sister, Ruth Ellen Yanczer of White Hall,  MO. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Ronald “Modoc” Gilleland, and by his paternal grandmother who raised him, Allie Clark.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 am Friday, February 28, 2014 at Forest Homes First Southern Baptist Church in Cottage Hills with Pastor Tom Fea officiating.   

Burial will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO. with full military rites being preformed.

Memorials may be made Forest Homes First Southern Baptist Church.

Online condolence and guestbook may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com


Obit Provided By:
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home

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