Marie (Lipsky) Gillis 91 passed away peacefully Wednesday April 21, 2021 with her family at her side.  She was born on November 22, 1929 in Kewaunee to the late Nicholas and Helen (Cesar) Lipsky.  She was the oldest of their ten children.  On August 31, 1949 Marie married Leon (Red) Gillis at Holy Rosary Church in Kewaunee. They spent 71 years of marriage together and raised two daughters Mary and Dawn.

She was a longtime member of St. Mary Parish in Luxemburg and the Christian Mothers Society.  She was employed for many years at grocery stores.  She worked as a young girl and for a while after being married for her grandfather Julius Lipsky at Lipsky’s Store in Kewaunee.  After her daughters were in school she worked at Fran’s IGA and Stodola’s IGA in Luxemburg for 25 years until retirement.  She enjoyed the friendship she had with Ted and Dick Stodola and with coworkers both young and old. 

Marie and Red did many things to enjoy life.  When their daughters were young they went camping and had a permanent campsite at Vale of Valhalla in Door County.  They liked to travel and went to Branson, Myrtle Beach, Arizona, Florida and other destinations. 

They enjoyed taking along friends, relatives, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  For a long time they had a full sized custom van so that everyone could travel in comfort.  Years ago during the winter they played cards every week with Hank and Joane Kollross and Francis and Joan Sacotte.   She also enjoyed going to the casino with her brother Bob, sister Nancy and daughter Dawn.   After Red and Marie retired they spent a few months each winter including January 2020 to April 2020 in Texas with their daughter Dawn and her family.

She is survived by her husband Red and her daughters Mary (Mike) Patek Kewaunee and Dawn (Mike) Durham, Victoria TX.  Six grandchildren Amy (Joe) Vanden Avond, Debra (Matt) Van Goethem, Edward (Fran) Patek, Lindy (Anthony Reisinger) Burns, Danielle (Erik) Barraza, and Nicholas Burns. Ten great grandchildren, Jacob, Ryan and Kathryn Vanden Avond, Mitchell, Mason, and Madyson Van Goethem, Eddie Patek, Purusa Burns, Jameson Burns and River Barraza.

Other survivors include her brothers and sisters. Jim (Shirley) Lipsky, Helen “Tootsie” Reisner, Nancy (Bob) Bierke and Dale Lipsky.  She is further survived by her sister’s-in-law Phyllis Lipsky and Sharon Swagel and brother’s-in-law Darrell (Mary) Gillis and Ron (Alice) Gillis and many nieces and nephews and cousins and special friends Joan Sacotte, Joane Kollross, Anita and Ted Stodola and Coleen and Mike Lambert.   

She was preceded in death by her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ethel and John Gillis and siblings Patsy (Donald) Shillin, Robert (Phyllis) Lipsky, Nick Lipsky Jr., Donald Lipsky and Mike Lipsky and brother’s-in-law Wayne Reisner and Alvin Swagel and sister-in-law Evelyn Gillis.

Visitation will be at St. Mary Catholic Church in Luxemburg on Tuesday April 27, 2021 from 9:30 to 10:45 am.  Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 am on Tuesday with Rev. Daniel Schuster officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Luxemburg.

The family asks that you wear a face mask and use proper safety practices. The McMAHON FUNERAL HOME, LUXEMBURG is assisting the family. www.mcmahonfh.com

Marie was a person of strong faith.  She believed that family love was unconditional.  She prayed the Rosary daily and if she missed one day she would say two the next day.  Marie passed away on the 17th anniversary of her father-in-law’s John Gillis’ death.

The family would like to thank Father Daniel Schuster for his kindness and concern during the last few years.  The family is grateful to Lori and Stacy and the staff at Autumn Fields Assisted Living and Compassus Hospice for the excellent and compassionate care given to Marie.