Ghassan Youssef "Gus" Khalil

1945 – 2025 It is with profound sadness that the family of Ghassan Youssef Khalil, age 79, announces his passing on October 16, 2025. Ghassan was born in Maghdouche, Lebanon, to Youssef and Wadia Khalil, and was a longtime resident...

Like all of his family and friends, I was devastated to learn of my cousin Ghassan's sudden and untimely passing. He was our family's last link to Magdouche, Lebanon his hometown and that of our paternal grandfather. Ghassan maintained relationships with his family there, and retained a love for his homeland that his 56 years in the U.S. did not dampen. Our family met Ghassan (or Gus as we called him then) in about 1969, likely through Bishop (then Father) John Elya, another of Magdouche's U.S. ambassadors. Ghassan was studying engineering at Wayne State University, and my brother George and I overlapped with him for a year or so on campus before he graduated and began his illustrious career. During that period, he was "adopted" by my parents who enjoyed entertaining him at home and taking him on local excursions. I would move away and lose contact with him for many years, during which time he and his wonderful wife Jeanette built their beautiful, talented family. He never failed to express personal condolences in church at the passing of our parents which occured before I left Michigan permanently. When we managed to reconnect about three years ago during a trip I took to visit my brother and sister in Michigan, he kindly invited us to his home for an extravagant home-cooked meal. It was a delight to meet Jeanette, Jennie, Laura, and their families and to learn about Joe. I observed that evening how love and kindness permeated each Khalil generation. Thereafter, in the email and text messages Ghassan and I passed, he asked about my health and that of my spouse Margot, mentioned health challenges that he and Jeanette faced from time to time, shared his grief about the passing of his last brother, and passed along historical knowledge about Magdouche, including his witnessing in 1963 of the raising of the statue and shrine of our Lady of Mantara. We texted one last time last Saturday, when he sent a picture of an historic public well used by villagers during the time of his grandparents. In response to my sister Mary's question about his upcoming surgery, he shared the time on Monday that it would occur and imagined that he would be in a hospital room in a couple of hours. I replied with a large ribbon-wrapped heart, but regrettably no words. Never did I imagine that this wonderful man would text no more. Thinking of his place in Heaven and reunification with his Magdouche family gives some comfort, and for his grieving family on earth, I know that he will continue to bestow love and guidance upon them.

Gus was my team leader and esteemed mentor. He was a very wise man and he was also very forgiving. I pray his family heal from this great loss.
Kenneth Wayne Ratcliff
San Angelo, Texas

I first met Gus and Jeanette at Wayne State's Student Center when we were undergrads. We quickly realized how much we had in common; our heritage and our faith. Although we had gone our separate ways after college, we always felt that warm connection when attending services at our Lady of Redemption Melkite Church. He will be missed very much.

Eva Sokol