Robert Gillespie, 64, Gary, MN died Saturday, August 26, 2006 in the MeritCare Palliative Care Unit, Fargo, ND.
Robert (Bob) Gillespie was born October 27, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Joseph and Mary (Cahill) Gillespie. He was raised and attended school in the southern suburbs of Chicago by his mother and stepfather Frank E. Jobin. As a young man he worked as an auto mechanic and also as a dental technician. Most of his working career, Bob was employed by T.W.A. Airlines as a ground mechanic. Over the years at T.W.A. he worked in Chicago O'Hare and also in Saudi Arabia.
In December on 1967, he married Harvena (Sue) Davis in Chicago and made their home in Waucanda, Illinois, before moving to Saudi Arabia in 1974, for a number of years. In the late 1970's, Bob retired due to a job injury. Through the years he has made his home in Illinois, Virginia, Wisconsin, Arizona and later here in Minnesota. In the late 1990's, he moved to Waubun, Minnesota for a few years and then to Gary, Minnesota where he has lived for the past several years.
Bob enjoyed working on computers, movies, good music and chess. He was also a history buff. He was a member of the Gary Lions Club and while living in LaCross, Wisconsin, he was a Mason.
Two daughters survive Bob; Vicky (Kevin) Reynolds, Chesapeke, Virginia, and Rebecca (James) Farrar, Eastern Shore, Virginia; one stepdaughter, Trudy (Lyle) Beardmore, Gary, MN; one stepson, Timothy McCann, Virginia Beach, Virginia; one sister, Joan Rispoli, Berbank, IL and 7 grandchildren. Bob is also survived by the Mike and Jill Nelson family of Gary, MN who where such good friends to him over the years. His parents and one brother preceded him in death.
Funeral services were Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 11:00 am in the Gary Lutheran Church, Gary, MN. Visitation were one hour before services at the church. Pastor H. William Beyer officiated. Alden Anderson served as organist and Monica Winter as vocalist. Pallbearers were Phil Dassinger, Arne Campbell, Gary TeHennepe, Stanley Aune, Gordon Nelson, Kelly Stene, Paul Nelson and Leonard Engen with the Gary Lions Club serving as honorary pallbearers. Burial was in the Gary Lutheran Cemetery, Gary, MN.