Doris I. Gillis

1923 - 2025

Watertown, WI - Doris Irene Gillis, 102, passed away on November 5, 2025 at Spero Heritage Homes in Watertown.

Doris was born on May 21, 1923 to Louis Stark and Dora (Horn) Stark. She grew up on the family farm on Lovers Lane in the Town of Clyman with her siblings, Ewald, Eva (Riebe), and Helen (Faultersack).

During World War II she made airplane propellers at the G.B. Lewis factory in Watertown. Through mutual friends at G.B. Lewis, she met her future husband, Thomas Gillis. They were married on August 6, 1949 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Watertown.

Doris and Tom had 4 children: Darlene (Douglas) Armstrong of Mequon, Steven (Jeanne) Gillis of Watertown, Susan (James) Ringer of Fond du Lac, Wanda (Timothy) Fredrick of Watertown. The family lived on Center Street in the house that Doris and Tom built. After Tom passed away in 1996, Doris continued to live in the house for a total of 71 years. The family grew to include 5 grandchildren: Peter (Samantha) Gillis, Jacob Fredrick, Ashley (Cory) Peirick, Taylor (Natezia) Fredrick, Beth (Victor Sanchez) Ringer and 4 great-grandchildren: Adele Peirick, Lucas Peirick, Athena Ringer Sanchez, and Hannah Gillis, and 1 on the way. In addition, Doris had 2 step grandsons: Tim Armstrong and Dan Armstrong and their families. Her family, including extended family members, friends, and church were very important to her.

Her house was a gathering spot for family for many years, and she saw to it that everyone had more than enough to eat for each gathering. Doris had a talent for handicrafts especially plastic canvas needlepoint. She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Watertown and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 189 in Watertown.

Doris is survived by her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and their spouses, her great-grandchildren, her step-grandsons and their families as well as nieces and nephews.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her siblings, a son-in-law Greg Julian, and 2 infant grandsons, Benjamin and Joseph Gillis.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Watertown with Pastor Brett Brauer officiating. Relatives and friends may gather at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at the Lutheran Cemetery in Watertown. Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, Rainbow Hospice, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 189, or the charity of your choice. Hafemeister Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Watertown is serving the family. Online condolences may be left at www.HafemeisterFH.com.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Rainbow Hospice staff & exceptional nurses Jody & Lisa and the wonderful staff at Spero Heritage for their care & compassion, also the Pastoral staff & congregation of Trinity for their support, thoughts & prayers.