Arthur "Tom" Gilles

Arthur "Tom" Gilles
Tom Gilles passed away peacefully Thursday, March 21, 2024, at his home. The son of the late Arthur P. and Alice (Neal) Gilles was born September 8, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. Tom graduated from Saginaw High. Tom served his country proudly in the United States Army for 25 years. For the first 10 years, he served as an infantryman. For the remaining time in his service, he was a helicopter mechanic and, thereafter, an instructor. Tom retired as a Sergeant First Class. While serving, he was awarded many medals, including Defense Service Medal, Army Accommodation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and many more. Upon his retirement from serving this Country, he continued utilizing his leadership skills as head of the Exceptional Metal division for Duro-Last. Tom retired from Duro-Last in 2014. Tom was a classic car enthusiast. After retiring from Duro-Last, he had the time to fulfill a lifelong dream and was so excited when he ran across a 1957 Bel Air barn find. He spent the next several years restoring it to mint condition. So if you had a hard time getting a hold of Tom during his retirement, all you had to do was go to the Big Boy on car show day and you would see him sitting outside his Bel Air talking with his buddies.
Surviving are his wife, Evelyn, of 33 years; children Lisa and Steven Pasheek, Jeremy Gilles, Brandon Gilles, Roland and Emily Cedo, Christopher and Emily Gilles; grandchildren Taylor Pasheek, Dominic Cedo, Eliza Cedo, Clementine Gilles, Ilah Sue Gilles, Bonnie Gilles; sisters Nora and John Kretschmer, Connie Lee, brothers Mike and Sharon Gilles, Patrick & Laurie Gilles; many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends. He is predeceased in death by sisters Sally Mazzola and Colleen Riley; and his companion dog AJ.
A memorial and sharing service for family and friends will be held at Zehnder's Townhall, 730 S. Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734 on April 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
Interment will take place at a future date in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, Michigan.
For information, please call Fischer Family Funeral Services at (989) 755-8277. To express your condolences, please visit www.fischerfuneral.com.