Paul Gillespie

Funeral services for Paul Gillespie, age 76, of Graceville will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Ev.Lutheran Church in Johnson, Minnesota. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday evening, the 20th, from 5 – 7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Eugene Andrus will officiate and burial will be in the Trinity Ev. Lutheran Cemetery.

Paul Leroy Gillespie was born on June 22, 1937, in Stevens County to Donald Oliver and Mabel Alma (Spittle) Gillespie. He was baptized on July 7, 1940, and confirmed on June 17, 1951, both in Zion Lutheran Church in Chokio. Paul attended grades 1 – 8 in District 52, rural Chokio, and attended and graduated from Chokio High School in 1956. In April of 1956 Paul joined the U.S. Army, training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and Fort Leonardwood, Missouri. He served in the Youngstown, New York 465th Missile Battalion. Paul served in Europe for 30 months, mostly in Germany and France, and was in Special Service 239th Engineers, based in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and achieved Rank SP5. Upon discharge he worked for Asmus Construction from 1959 to 1969 and farmed south of Chokio until 1964.

On August 17, 1963, Paul and Marilyn Iola Bartsch were united in marriage in Johnson at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church. They were blessed with four children. In 1964, he built a home north of Johnson and throughout the years built a farm site and farmed until 1999. Paul was still active in the farming operation with his sons.

Paul was active in his church and community, volunteering where needed. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, serving on the church council, as trustee, cemetery sexton, and usher. He served on the FHA Committee and GPLHS Board. Paul was also a member of the Chokio Sportsmen's Club, Alberta Sportsmen's Club, Graceville Sportsmen's Club, Chokio Legion, and Morris VFW.

In his spare time Paul enjoyed fishing, hunting, and playing cards. Spending time with his grandchildren was very important to him. Paul lived his life in faith and in his love of God, his wife, his children and grandchildren, and his friends.

Paul died on December 14, 2013, in Graceville, Minnesota, having lived to the age of 76.

Left with his loving memory is his wife Marilyn of Graceville, MN; children: Beth (Tim) Hallauer of Tipp City, OH; Curtis (Judy) Gillespie of Graceville, MN; Kay (Greg) Miller of Mankato, MN; and Scott (Erin) Gillespie of Graceville, MN; thirteen grandchildren; brothers: James Gillespie of Chokio, MN; Harvey (Nancy) Gillespie of Chokio, MN; Glen (Kahla) Gillespie of Alberta, MN; Gary (Lynn) Gillespie of Green Valley, AZ; and sisters: Donna (Lee) Eystad of Donnelly, MN; and Lois (Bernard) VanEps of Chokio, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers: Allen and Keith Gillespie.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Great Plains Lutheran High School in Watertown, South Dakota.