Robert "Bob" J. Gille

Robert “Bob” John Gille passed away peacefully on June 10, 2021 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. Bob was born at St Mary’s Hospital, Madison, WI on April 30, 1935, the son of Raymond John Gille and Mary Gertrude (Collins) Gille.

He grew up in Gratiot, Wi and graduated from Gratiot High School in 1953. He attended St. Norbert’s College in DePere, Wi for one year then transferred to St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Madison on May 25, 1963. For thirty years he served the Diocese in various parishes and positions. He moved to Rockford in 1992 and worked for Christiansen-Simms Funeral Home.
He married Roberta Stiles on July 13, 1993 in Las Vegas, NV. Their marriage was blessed by Bishop Wirtz on May 10, 1996 at St. Patrick Church, Madison, Wi.

He was a member of St. James Church, Rockford, where he served as Co-Chairman of the Cornucopia Food Pantry; served on the Peace and Justice Committee, was an Usher, and taught CCD classes. Bob made many friends working with the Food Pantry as he worked with the Salvation Army, NI Food Bank and other food pantries in Rockford.

Bob was especially known for his great stories of growing up in the small town of Gratiot with Brown dog, his days in the Seminary, his love of golfing, his Irish heritage, and his most unique and infectious laugh.

He is survived by his brother-in-law, Bob Lochner; nieces, Anne (John) Reinicke, Susan Lochner, Mary Kay (Isaac) Trejo; nephew, Dan (Ann) Lochner; 8 Lochner great nieces and nephews and 6 Lochner great-great nieces and nephews; Stiles in-laws, 22 Stiles nieces/nephews; 22 Stiles great nieces/nephews and 1 great-great nephew.
Predeceased by his parents, his wife, Roberta (Stiles) Gille, his sister, Mary Sarajane Lochner, several Stiles in-laws and a Stiles great niece.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 with a visitation at 10:00 a.m. until time of the Mass at St. James Catholic Church, 428 N 2nd St, Rockford, IL 61107. To view the service online, please visit www.zoom.us with Meeting ID: 892 6758 5290 and Passcode: 12345. Burial in St. Mary/St. James Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James Church or Cornucopia Food Pantry. The family was assisted by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Riverside Chapel. Send condolences and share memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.